Apocalypse: Survivor-in-Law

Zero Leverage

The clock on the cheap motel nightstand flashed exactly six in the morning.

​Malcolm sat up on the lumpy mattress and immediately reached for his phone. He opened his international brokerage application.

​His heart beat in a slow and steady rhythm. This was the exact moment that would determine his entire future.

Meridian Dynamics had just released their official press statement five minutes ago.

​They had successfully patented a revolutionary solid state military battery. The Department of Defense had just announced a full acquisition of the company.

​Malcolm looked at his portfolio balance.

​Two hundred and fifteen million dollars.

​He stared at the staggering number. Yesterday he was a humiliated live in husband begging for scraps in a freezing apocalypse.

​Today he was one of the wealthiest men in the entire city of Brighthaven.

​He pressed the screen and liquidated his entire position. He transferred the massive sum directly into his secure checking account.

​He took a quick shower and put on a clean pair of dark jeans and a simple black jacket. He left the cheap motel without looking back.

​Malcolm drove his rusted sedan directly to the financial district. He parked in front of the towering glass headquarters of the National Central Bank.

​He walked past the long lines of ordinary people waiting for tellers. He bypassed the standard loan officers entirely.

​He walked directly to the elite wealth management suite.

​A secretary stood up immediately to block his path. She looked at his cheap clothes with disdain.

​"Excuse me sir," the secretary said smoothly. "This floor is strictly reserved for our ultra high net worth clients. I must ask you to leave."

​Malcolm did not argue. He simply pulled out his phone and opened his verified banking application. He placed the bright screen flat on her desk.

​The secretary glanced down. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. All the color instantly drained from her face.

​"I need to speak with the senior regional director," Malcolm said quietly. "Right now."

​The secretary completely lost her professional composure. She stumbled out from behind her desk and bowed deeply to him.

​"Right this way sir," she stammered in absolute terror. "Please forgive my ignorance."

​She frantically opened the double doors to the corner office.

​Arthur Hensley was the senior director of the National Central Bank. He was a balding man who spent his entire life serving the financial elite.

​Arthur looked up angrily at the sudden intrusion. Before he could speak the secretary rushed forward and whispered frantically into his ear.

​Arthur froze completely. His eyes darted to Malcolm.

​Arthur stood up so fast his heavy leather chair slammed into the wall behind him. He rushed around his desk and extended both hands to greet Malcolm.

​"Please sit down," Arthur said with a desperate and welcoming smile. "Would you like premium coffee? A glass of imported scotch perhaps."

​"I do not have time for drinks," Malcolm said. He sat down in the luxurious guest chair and crossed his legs.

​"I am currently looking for a primary banking institution to hold my liquid assets," Malcolm continued. "However, I require a massive corporate development loan today."

​Arthur swallowed hard. He saw the two hundred million dollar balance verified on his own terminal. Men with that much pure cash were practically gods in the financial world.

​"We can accommodate any request sir," Arthur promised eagerly. "What size loan are you seeking?"

​"Three billion dollars," Malcolm said without blinking.

​Arthur choked on his own breath. He gripped the edge of his desk to steady himself.

​"Three billion," Arthur repeated in a shocked whisper. "Sir, that is an astronomical sum. We would need massive collateral to secure a corporate loan of that magnitude."

​"You have my verified cash portfolio as initial collateral," Malcolm said smoothly. "I am purchasing several heavy industrial properties in the city center today. The remaining collateral will be secured by the real estate."

​Arthur stared at the young man sitting across from him. Malcolm spoke with the absolute authority of a hidden mega billionaire.

​No ordinary person could casually demand three billion dollars without breaking a sweat. Arthur was entirely convinced Malcolm belonged to a secretive international dynasty.

​"I will approve the preliminary credit line immediately," Arthur said. He was practically sweating with excitement at the massive commission he would earn.

​Arthur rapidly typed on his secure terminal. Within ten minutes he printed out a thick stack of corporate loan documents.

​Malcolm signed the papers with the exact same calm demeanor he used to sign his divorce papers yesterday.

​Arthur opened a secure biometric safe behind his desk. He pulled out a heavy metal card forged from pure black titanium.

​It was the legendary Black Card. It was an unlimited line of credit reserved only for the absolute predators of the financial world.

​"Your funds are fully accessible sir," Arthur said respectfully as he handed the heavy metal card across the desk.

​Malcolm slid the black card into his jacket pocket. He now possessed three billion dollars in spending power.

​In exactly one month the extreme cold apocalypse would completely destroy the global economy.

​The National Central Bank would be buried under fifty feet of solid ice. Every single server and digital record would freeze and shatter.

​Malcolm was never going to pay back a single cent of this money. He had just successfully robbed the largest bank in the country completely legally.

​He stood up and walked out of the office. He had the money. Now he needed the fortress.

​Malcolm already knew the perfect location. It was an abandoned heavy industry manufacturing warehouse located directly in the center of Brighthaven.

​It was only five blocks away from the luxurious Mercer estate.

​The warehouse had deep reinforced concrete foundations designed to hold massive factory machines. It was the absolute perfect shell to install yard thick titanium plating and a geothermal drill.

​The city was auctioning the property at the district commercial board this morning.

​Malcolm drove to the building. He walked up the wide stone steps with his hands casually in his pockets.

​He approached the double doors of the main boardroom. He could hear a loud and incredibly arrogant voice echoing from inside the room.

​It was Victor Hargrove.

​Malcolm pushed the doors open slightly and stepped into the back of the room.

​The boardroom was filled with wealthy local investors and city officials. Victor was standing at the head of the massive conference table.

​Caroline was sitting right next to him. She looked incredibly smug and proud to be seen with such a powerful man.

​Victor was holding a glass of water like a toast. He was speaking to the entire room with supreme condescension.

​"My company Blackridge Capital is prepared to offer five million dollars for the abandoned warehouse," Victor announced loudly.

​Several city officials nodded eagerly. They were desperate to please the arrogant billionaire heir.

​"I plan to completely demolish that ugly building," Victor continued with a massive smirk. "I am going to build the most exclusive luxury nightclub in Brighthaven."

​Victor reached down and grabbed Caroline by the hand. He pulled her up to stand beside him.

​"This nightclub will be a private engagement gift for my beautiful future wife," Victor boasted.

​The room erupted into polite applause. The local investors clapped loudly to flatter Victor.

​"I am currently worth thirty million dollars in personal assets," Victor said proudly. He puffed out his chest and looked around the room to ensure everyone was sufficiently impressed.

​"Nobody in this city can outbid me," Victor declared with absolute arrogance. "That property belongs to me."

​Malcolm stood in the shadows at the back of the room. He reached into his pocket and touched the cold edge of his titanium black card.

​Malcolm stepped entirely out of the shadows. His heavy boots echoed loudly against the marble floor.

​He walked straight down the center aisle toward the head table.

​Caroline looked up and saw him approaching. Her triumphant smile vanished instantly. Her face twisted into a mask of pure disgust.