2025-03-27 13:12:45
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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 147. A Surprising Offer
Margaret sat in her room, staring out the window as she thought about what Ivy said. To her, Ivy was her only family, and she also didn't like fighting with her, but Margaret couldn't just let it go like that, she needed to teach her a lesson.Just as she was thinking about what to do, her phone rang. It was her lawyer, Mr. Jenkins."Ma'am, I've been thinking about the case, and if it's alrigjt with you, I'd like to make a suggestion." He said."Oh? And what's that?""Why don't we settle the case?""What?!""Hear me out. Rather than demanding that Ivy give up her position, why don't we petition for one? Say, the second in command, or maybe a seat on the board of directors. That way, you will have influence in the company, and you can partake in decision making.""What if I don't want to do it that way?""I understand how you must feel ma'am, but see, the trial is going to be expensive and time-consuming. And even if we win, there's no guarantee that Ivy will actually step down as CEO.
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 148. A Seat At The Table
The meeting between Margaret, Ivy, and their lawyers took place in a large conference room. The tension in the room was as clear as day as they sat down at the table.Ms. Rodriguez smiled, trying to break the ice. "Let's get started, shall we? We have a lot to discuss."Mr. Jenkins nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, let's get down to business."The negotiations were intense, with both sides arguing over the terms of the agreement. Margaret wanted a guarantee that she would have a significant say in the company's decisions, while Ivy was determined to maintain her independence as CEO.After hours of discussion, they finally reached a compromise. Margaret would take a seat on the board, but she would not have veto power over Ivy's decisions.As they signed the agreement, Ivy felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had avoided a lengthy and costly trial, and she had maintained her position as CEO.Margaret, on the other hand, was less than thrilled. She had wanted more control over
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 149. A New Challenge
"You're not going to ask me about the video circulating online?""What do you want me to say? Were you expecting me to call you and demand for an explanation?"It had been a whole month and Moses had not called or texted Bianca. She didn't really have a problem with it because she had been busy trying to get Van's attention, but with the way things were going, she realized that she might end up losing the life of luxury she wanted. "Moses, I know what it might look like–""Just stop, okay? I don't want to hear it. Prepare yourself, our wedding is in the next two weeks.""What?""I'll send you the location later today. Make sure you make the necessary preparations.""I don't understand, wedding? You didn't even tell me anything before.""Well I'm telling you now!""How long have you been planning this? Wha– does your family know about it? And what about mine?""We had a meeting a week ago and everything has been finalized. Your mother said she's going to help you in choosing your dress
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 150. Unlikely Alliance
"Mother, how dare you?""Excuse me?""What gave you the audacity to go ahead and plan my wedding without my knowledge?""Since you were determined on making a fool of yourself and tarnishing the name I had spent years building, I thought the only logical thing to do would be to marry you off. Consider yourself lucky that the Wilson family still decided to accept you. I'd say it's pretty obvious that Moses doesn't have the slightest of feelings for you, but as a sensible business man, he has put thought into the benefits to be gained from a union between our two families. My own daughter who stands to gain a whole lot more can't even think straight. Rather than looking forward, she's still choosing to remain in the past, hung up over that useless boy.""But mother, I told you that Van is already in a better place in life. He's getting rich and–""Then prove it!! Stop jeopardizing my future just because you think he already has a few bucks in his account!""Your future?""Yes! At this
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 151. Emotions
Ivy sat in her office, trying to process the revelation that her grandmother, Margaret, was behind the embezzlement of company funds. She felt a mix of emotions: anger, betrayal, and sadness. As she sat there, trying to gather her thoughts, Ivy's husband, Van, walked into the office.He was a tall, handsome man with a kind face and a warm smile. "Hey love, how's it going?" Van asked, noticing the look of concern on Ivy's face. He rarely visited Ivy at work but sometimes he would just drop by with treats, and Ivy was always grateful. She sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's been a long day. I just found out that Grandma is behind the embezzlement I told you about."Van's expression turned serious. "That's terrible. What are you going to do?"Ivy shook her head. "I don't know yet. I need to think about it and figure out my next move."Van walked over to Ivy and put his hand on her shoulder. "You'll get through this, Ivy. You're strong and capable. I'm sure all this will pass in a couple
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 152. A Surprising Revelation
Ivy spent the rest of the day thinking about her next move. She knew that she had to act quickly to stop Margaret and recover the embezzled funds.As she sat at her desk, brainstorming ideas, Van walked in with a cup of tea and a plate of cookies."I thought you might need a break," he said, setting the tray down in front of her.Ivy smiled, feeling grateful for her husband's thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Van. You're a lifesaver."Van sat down next to her and asked, "So, what's the plan?"Ivy took a sip of tea and began to outline her ideas. "I think we need to gather more evidence against Margaret. We need to prove that she's behind the embezzlement and that she's been using the company's funds for her own gain."Van nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought. "I agree. But we need to be careful. Margaret is a clever woman, and she'll stop at nothing to protect herself."Ivy nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "I know. That's why we need to come up with a solid plan. We need to gather
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 153. An Unexpected Turn
Ivy's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Margaret, her mind racing with questions. Why had Margaret chosen Alex to replace her as CEO? And what did this mean for the company's future?Alex, who had been standing at the back of the room, walked forward, a look of surprise on his face. "Madam Wilson, I don't know what to say. I'm flattered, but I'm not sure I'm the right person for the job."Margaret smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Nonsense, Alex. You're the perfect person for the job. You have a proven track record of success, and you're well-respected by the company's employees."Ivy felt a surge of anger and betrayal. How could Margaret do this to her? Didn't she know that Ivy was the rightful CEO of the company?She stood up, her voice shaking with emotion. "Madam Wilson, this is outrageous. You can't just appoint Alex as CEO without consulting me or the board of directors."Margaret shrugged, her expression unconcerned. "I can do what I want, Ivy. I'm the majority sh
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 154. Tested Love
Ivy sat in her office, staring blankly at the wall as she tried to process everything that had happened. She had just confronted Van, and she was still uncertain about the response she got from him.What was going on? What could van he planning behind ger back? And why couldn't he tell her what it was?She thought their marriage was built on love and trust, but didn't he trust her enough to let her know his plan? Or…God forbid… could Van actually be lying to her?As she sat there, trying to make sense of it all, Ivy's assistant knocked on the door."Madam Ivy, I have some documents here that need your signature," her assistant said, handing her a stack of documents.Ivy took the papers, her mind still elsewhere. She signed them without even reading them, her signature a mere scribble on the page.As her assistant left, Ivy realized that she needed to get her head back in the game. She couldn't let her personal problems affect her work.She took a deep breath and focused on the task at
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230. Midnight Deal
The night swallowed him whole. Van moved like a shadow through the back alleys, boots silent against cracked pavement. No headlights. No noise, just the hush of a city holding its breath.The old mill loomed ahead — dead and forgotten.Rust covered the walls like rot, windows smashed out years ago.But tonight, it was alive again. Lights burned inside. Dim. Yellow. Flickering.Van’s gut clenched, there were too many lights.Too many cars parked just out of sight.He checked his pistol — loaded, safety off.One extra mag in his jacket.Not much.But it would have to do.He stepped through the busted gate, every nerve tight.His contact — Ramos — stood near the loading dock, arms folded, a cigarette glowing in his hand."Van," Ramos greeted, voice rough. Like gravel chewed up in a blender. "You actually came.Didn’t think you had the stones anymore."Van kept his face blank. "Let’s skip the warm-up.You got the guns?"Ramos shrugged. "You got the cash?"Van tossed a duffel bag at his fe
229. Regrouping
The sedan rolled to a stop at the docks, wheels crunching over loose gravel.The old warehouse loomed ahead — rusted, half-abandoned, but still standing.Safehouse Two.For now.Van was the first out, scanning the shadows.Nothing moved but the water lapping against the pilings.It was good... for now.Boyd staggered out next, coughing from the smoke that still clung to his lungs.He looked back at the road, half expecting black SUVs to come roaring around the bend.None yet.But he knew it was only a matter of time. They all did. Inside the warehouse, Carla flicked the light switch. Nothing. It was obvious that power was long dead here.She cursed and grabbed the old lantern from the shelf, sparking weak yellow light into the gloom. "Great. We’re living like rats now," she muttered.Dan slumped against a wall, wincing as he peeled back the bloody cloth from his arm. The wound was deeper than he let on but no one had time to properly check on him yet. Louisa stood frozen in the midd
228. Counterstrike
The first sign came quiet. Too quiet.Carla’s laptop froze mid-search.The screen flickered once, then died.She cursed under her breath, smacking the side."That’s not normal," she muttered.But by the time she turned to call Van, the lights in the safehouse cut out too.Dark.Total dark.Van's instincts snapped awake.He grabbed Boyd by the collar, yanked him back from the window."Down. Now."A second later, the glass exploded inward — a single sniper round carving through where Boyd’s head had been.Dan was already rolling for the back door, weapon drawn.But he barely made it two steps before the walls shuddered — an explosion outside, close enough to rattle the whole building."They're here!" Dan bellowed."Barron's men — they’re hitting us now!"Louisa screamed, clutching the flash drive like it was her last tether to life.Carla grabbed her arm, dragging her toward the back.Her voice was sharp but tight with fear."Move! Go! Go!"Van grabbed the rifle from under the couch — o
227. The Leak
By dawn, the first leak was already live.A small, half-forgotten blog out of Riverside — City Watchdog — dropped the bomb.No flashy headlines. No screaming sirens.Just cold facts: financial records, timestamps, and the name of a sitting state senator wired half a million from one of Barron’s shell companies.No context. No accusation, just enough to light the fuse.Van watched the post go viral in real time.At first, nobody cared. Then, somewhere around seven AM, a bigger account picked it up — a political gossip page with just enough clout to make people squint.By noon, national blogs were calling it "The Slush Fund Scandal."At around two PM, the senator’s office released a frantic denial.That’s when Van knew they’d drawn blood.Boyd let out a bark of laughter when the news hit the TV in the safehouse."Look at them squirm! Man, they thought they were gods. Now they’re crying on camera like school kids who were caught cheating."Dan just grunted, never looking away from the wi
226. The Accountant's Secret
The safehouse smelled like old coffee and fear when Louisa Martin finally showed up.She came alone, wrapped in a cheap raincoat two sizes too big, hair hidden under a beanie.Her eyes darted everywhere — ceiling corners, dark windows, even the cracks in the floor like they might bite her.Van watched her quietly from across the room, arms folded.She looked nothing like the sharp financial shark Keller described.This woman was frayed at the edges, like someone who hadn’t slept properly in months.Keller made the introductions. "Louisa. This is Van. Van — Louisa."Louisa’s voice was brittle as glass. "I know who he is."Her eyes flicked to Van, then away again like looking at him too long might get her killed.Van didn’t bother with small talk, time was blood now. "You worked for Barron, that means you know where the bodies are buried. You talk — I make sure you stay breathing.You stay quiet — and you’ll be next on his list."Louisa’s laugh was short and humorless."Sweetheart, I’ve
225. Next Move
By mid-morning, Van couldn’t step outside without seeing his own face staring back from every screen.Some called him a vigilante.Others spat the word criminal like poison.But the city was buzzing, and Barron’s name was finally dragged through the dirt alongside his own.Van didn’t care about the headlines. He cared about the numbers Carla showed him — accounts traced, shell companies linked, wires exposed like raw nerves.Money. That’s where they would cut next.She tapped the screen, her nail chipped and trembling slightly."See this? Phoenix Holdings. Looks clean on the outside, but dig deeper and it’s washing Barron’s trafficking money through luxury imports. Art, watches, cars—hell, probably gold toilets for his mansion."Van grunted. His mind wasn’t on art.It was on Lenny, still fighting for his life three floors up."You said we could burn him financially. How?"Carla smirked, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She looked as tired as he felt."We leak it. Quiet first — to the rig
224. First Blood
The attack came at dawn.Silent. Surgical. Cruel.Lenny never saw it coming. He was stepping out of his apartment, headed to meet Van at the old mill, when the van screeched up.Three men in black masks.No words — just steel pipes and fists.Neighbors heard the commotion but kept their doors shut.Everyone knew better. When Barron’s men came calling, you looked away.By the time the van peeled off, Lenny lay in a broken heap, blood pooling beneath his head.His niece’s picture, which he always carried in his pocket, fluttered to the ground, soaked red.★★★Van got the call an hour later.Nora's voice shook."They nearly killed him, Van. Lenny’s in ICU. Skull fractures, broken ribs. They meant to send a message."Van stood frozen in the middle of Keller’s living room, heart pounding like a war drum.Carla looked up from her laptop, face pale."This is escalation. Barron’s going full scorched earth now. If we don’t hit back hard—"Van was already moving.★★★At the hospital, Lenny lay
223. Raising An Army
Van’s phone buzzed just past midnight, it was an unknown number but he answered without hesitation.A familiar voice, rough and low, crackled through."You said if we ever wanted payback, we should call. Well, we’re calling."It was Lenny — an old cellmate from the prison days. A man who’d lost his niece to the same trafficking chain Bianca had just escaped.Van’s chest tightened."Where are you?""Abandoned mill off 43rd Street. And we’re not alone."Van grabbed his jacket and keys.This was the sign he’d been waiting for.★★★The mill was a ruin of rust and cracked windows, but inside, the air was electric.Dozens of faces turned when Van stepped in.Ex-cons, street runners and women with haunted eyes — survivors of Barron’s network.At the front stood Lenny, his massive arms crossed over his chest. Beside him, a thin woman with a scar along her jaw — Nora, who had once testified and then vanished from public sight.Van took it in: a gathering of the discarded and the damned.People
222. Barron Retaliates
The news broke before dawn. Grainy footage leaked online — flashing lights at the docks, bodies being loaded into ambulances, women wrapped in blankets, their faces blurred.The headlines screamed in bold:Human Trafficking Ring Busted in Dramatic Night Raid.But behind the headlines, in dark rooms far from the public eye, powerful men were already plotting their revenge.Van sat beside Bianca's hospital bed, watching her chest rise and fall. She was sedated, her body too battered and exhausted to stay conscious for long but she was alive.That simple fact kept him breathing.Keller stood near the door, on the phone with someone high up — probably trying to keep this operation from exploding into a political scandal.Carla scrolled through her tablet, her face grim."They’re already spinning this," she muttered. "Barron’s people are leaking stories that this was a rogue smuggling crew. Small-time. Not connected to him."Van’s jaw clenched."Typical. Burn the pawns, protect the king."
