Empire of Betrayal

Chapter 7: The Public Strike

The skyline glittered with lights, but tonight, the city was about to witness a storm it would never forget. Jackson Forbes leaned back in the underground control room, his gaze fixed on the monitors showing live feeds of Oakwood Consortium headquarters, social media trends, and breaking news alerts.

“Tonight,” Jackson said, voice low and commanding, “we move from shadows to the stage. They think I’m dead. They think I’m powerless. They think they’ve won. Let’s prove them wrong.”

Harris crossed his arms. “A public strike? This is bold. If anything goes wrong, it could expose us.”

Jackson’s eyes glinted. “Everything has been calculated. Every detail, every ally, every digital footprint. We leave them with no escape, no dignity, and no way to deny what’s coming.”

Lina, fingers flying over her keyboard, nodded. “All systems ready. Press releases, social media infiltration, internal Consortium data, all coordinated. The city will see it first, then the world.”

Jackson stood, pacing slowly. “This is about more than revenge. This is a message. To Jenna. To the board. To everyone who thought they could betray me. Tonight, they learn who Jackson Forbes truly is.”

Inside the Oakwood Consortium, Jenna Oakwood was preparing for an important shareholders’ gala, her nerves already frayed from weeks of internal sabotage.

“Victor,” she whispered sharply, “everything must go perfectly tonight. The board, the investors… I cannot afford any mistakes.”

Victor, carefully playing his role as a loyal executive while secretly reporting to Jackson, nodded. “Of course, Ms. Oakwood. Everything is under control.”

Jenna’s eyes flickered with unease. Why do I feel like something is coming? She shook her head. I’m imagining it… it has to be…

Back underground, Jackson watched the gala’s live feed. Guests mingled, glasses clinked, chandeliers sparkled. And then, with a subtle keystroke, the first wave hit.

The gala screens, which had been displaying promotional videos of the Oakwood Consortium’s achievements, flickered, and then switched to a live feed showing internal Consortium communications, private emails, and documents.

Every hidden flaw, every mismanagement, every incriminating exchange was broadcast to the room.

Gasps filled the air. Investors murmured nervously. Board members froze. And at the center of it all, Jenna Oakwood’s face paled. “What… what is this?” she demanded, voice trembling as she approached the main screen.

Victor kept his composure, pretending shock. “I… I don’t know, Ms. Oakwood. This… this must be some kind of technical error.”

Jackson’s calm, commanding voice echoed through encrypted speakers only his allies could access. “Not an error, Jenna. A revelation. The world sees what you’ve tried to hide. Every flaw, every betrayal, every mistake.”

Jenna’s hands shook. “Impossible… this can’t be happening! Jackson… this isn’t—he’s—he’s gone!”

Jackson’s faint smile was visible on the monitors. “Gone? No, Jenna. Just waiting. Watching. And now… striking.”

The live feed expanded beyond the gala, appearing on news channels and social media in real-time. The Consortium’s failures, mismanaged funds, and internal conflicts were exposed to the entire city. Headlines flashed:

“Oakwood Consortium in Crisis: Hidden Failures Revealed!”

“Is Jackson Forbes Back From the Dead?”

“Boardroom Chaos at Oakwood Consortium Gala”

Gasps of horror rippled through the gala. Investors whispered, reporters tweeted, and security scrambled to regain control.

Jenna, frozen with disbelief, realized the humiliating truth: her empire, the very foundation of her power, was collapsing in front of everyone. “Victor!” she shouted. “Explain this! How, how did this happen?!”

Victor’s voice remained calm, controlled. “I… I don’t know, Ms. Oakwood. It’s as if… someone has full access. Someone with knowledge… and power beyond our comprehension.”

Underground, Jackson leaned back, satisfied. “Phase one of the public strike complete. Panic is spreading. Control is slipping. And Jenna… she’s beginning to understand exactly who she’s been dealing with.”

Harris glanced at the monitors. “The city… the investors… they’re all watching. This will have repercussions.”

Jackson’s gaze softened briefly on a photo of May. “Good. Let them watch. Let them fear. But remember… this isn’t for me alone. Every move, every risk… is for her. For May. Everything else is secondary.”

Lina frowned. “What’s next?”

Jackson’s eyes narrowed. “Next… we tighten the noose. Every executive who falters, every investor who wavers, every ally who hesitates… we control them. And Jenna… she will be forced to act under fear, desperation, and humiliation. And every choice she makes from this moment will lead her deeper into the trap we’ve set.”

Back at the gala, Jenna’s composure broke. Tears threatened to spill as she realized the magnitude of Jackson’s move. Every executive, every investor, every guest now doubted her leadership. The humiliation was complete.

“How… how could he?” she whispered, voice cracking. “How could he orchestrate this? He’s… he’s alive…”

Victor remained by her side, calm but secretly thrilled. Every detail had been orchestrated by Jackson, every reaction predicted, every misstep planned.

Jenna turned sharply, eyes blazing. “If he’s alive… if Jackson Forbes is truly alive… he will pay. He will pay for this… and for everything else!”

Her threat, though loud and fierce, only confirmed Jackson’s success. Fear had taken root. Paranoia was consuming her. And the first public strike had exposed the Oakwoods’ vulnerabilities not just to Jackson, but to the world.

Underground, Jackson allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. “Perfect,” he whispered. “They see me. They feel me. And yet… they have no idea what’s coming next.”

Harris leaned in. “This… this is only the beginning, isn’t it?”

Jackson’s gaze was cold, unwavering. “The beginning is exactly where it should be. The first public strike is over. But the real war… the full reckoning… is only just beginning. And the Oakwoods will crumble under the weight of everything they’ve done to me… and to my family.”

The monitors continued to flicker with the chaos unfolding at the gala. Jenna Oakwood, once untouchable, now trembled under the gaze of the city and the man she had betrayed.

Jackson Forbes, alive, brilliant, unstoppable, had made his first public statement: he was back, and he would not stop until vengeance, justice, and reclamation were complete.