2026-01-22 22:20:40
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Chapter 180Lucas Johnson walked through the corridors of the family organization's headquarters, observing the subtle but profound changes that had taken root over the past two years. Employees who once avoided eye contact now greeted him with genuine respect rather than fearful deference. Conference rooms that had once hosted backroom deals now displayed transparency protocols on the walls. The very atmosphere felt different—cleaner, somehow.He stopped at a window overlooking the main atrium, where new hires were being oriented. Two years ago, those orientations had been perfunctory, focused on who to know rather than what to do. Now, they emphasized ethical standards, accountability, and merit-based advancement."Watching your empire?" a voice said behind him.Lucas turned to find Kenneth Park, the former SEC investigator he'd brought in to oversee the investment division. Kenneth had proven to be exactly what the organization needed—incorruptible, competent, and willing to challe
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Chapter 179Two years later..........Lucas Johnson stood in the renovated executive suite overlooking the family organization's headquarters, watching the sun rise over a campus that looked almost nothing like the one he'd inherited. The buildings were the same, but everything else had changed. New leadership. New protocols. New culture.He'd defeated them all—Marcus, the Sentinel Systems operatives, The Architect's network, every corrupted branch of the organization that had tried to use him as their instrument. And he'd done it without becoming what they were."Early morning contemplation?" Dev's voice came from the doorway. "That's either a good sign or you haven't slept."Lucas turned, managing a small smile. "A little of both. Coffee?""Always," Dev said, entering and accepting the cup Lucas poured from the carafe on the side table. He joined Lucas at the window. "Big day. Board presentation at ten, then the foundation gala tonight. You ready?""As ready as I'll ever be," Lucas
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Chapter 178Lucas Johnson sat in what had once been Marcus's office, now stripped of its expensive artwork and personal effects. The space felt sterile, functional—exactly what he needed for the work ahead. Spread across the conference table were personnel files representing over two hundred employees across the family organization, each one flagged for review.Dev entered carrying his tablet and two cups of coffee. He set one in front of Lucas and took a seat across from him, his expression carefully neutral."You're really going through with this," Dev said, gesturing at the files scattered across the table."I don't have a choice," Lucas replied, opening the first file. "I had found the corrupted files. I have to clean it up."The next file belonged to Sandra Oakes, who'd managed one of the investment portfolios. Her credentials had been fabricated—a detail that had somehow escaped notice during her hiring because a senior executive's assistant had vouched for her personally."Oak
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Chapter 177The investigation Lucas Johnson had initiated three weeks ago had grown far beyond his initial expectations. What had started as a targeted probe into Marcus's conspiracy had metastasized into something much larger, spreading through the Johnson family organization like wildfire consuming dry timber.Lucas stood in the conference room of the family's corporate headquarters, watching through the glass walls as federal investigators moved through the building with methodical precision. Boxes of documents were being carried out on rolling carts. Hard drives were being seized. Employees were being interviewed in every available office space."It's gotten out of control," Dominic said quietly beside him, his arm still in a sling. "You know that, right?""I know," Lucas replied, his voice tight. He watched a team of auditors emerge from the finance department, their faces grim. "But I don't know how to stop it."The door opened behind them, and Margaret Chen, the lead federal pr
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Chapter 176:Lucas Johnson inserted the flash drive into his laptop while Dominic settled more comfortably on the couch, favoring his injured arm. The screen populated with folders, each meticulously labeled and dated. Lucas clicked on one marked "Sentinel Communications - Classified.""These messages," Lucas said, opening the first file. "I saw fragments of them months ago. I thought you were reporting to handlers, giving them updates on me."Dominic shook his head slowly. "I know. That's what it was designed to look like." He leaned forward, wincing at the movement. "Pull up the message dated April seventh. That was my first real contact with them."Lucas found the file and opened it. The message read:D. Hart to J. Morrison (Sentinel Systems): I have information regarding irregularities in evaluation protocols being applied to personnel under my command. Request secure channel for discussion of potential corruption within assessment framework."Morrison," Lucas said. "I remember th
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Chapter 175Lucas Johnson sat surrounded by scattered papers and glowing laptop screens, each displaying documents he'd reviewed dozens of times before. But now, with the knowledge of Dominic's true investigation fresh in his mind, everything looked different. Every piece of evidence he'd once interpreted as betrayal suddenly demanded reexamination.He pulled up the first intercepted report—a document he'd found two months ago that had shattered his trust in Dominic. The header read "Subject Psychological Assessment - Lucas Johnson." Lucas had read it as a clinical dissection of his vulnerabilities, information that could be weaponized against him.Now, he read it again."Jesus," he breathed, his eyes moving down the page with new understanding.The document wasn't an assessment of his weaknesses. It was a catalog of attacks. Each "vulnerability" listed was actually documentation of a coordinated assault on his mental state. Where Lucas had read "Subject shows increased isolation from
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