The Return Of The Hidden Dragon

7: THE FALL OF HAROLD STERLING

The sun rose cold and pale over London, spilling light across the tall glass buildings.

Inside his luxury office, Harold Sterling stood by the window, watching the traffic below.

He looked calm from a distance, but his clenched jaw and shaking hand told another story.

For years, Harold had been the man no one dared to cross. His voice could ruin careers, but now, that same voice trembled each time his phone rang.

He had lost three major investors in the last twenty-four hours. His shares were crashing. His company name, Sterling International, was all over the news. 

Headlines screamed betrayal, fraud, corruption, aAnd all of it traced back… to him.

He slammed his fist against the glass desk. “Impossible! Someone planted this!”

His assistant, a nervous young man named Reed, stood frozen by the door. “Sir… there’s another problem.”

Harold turned sharply. “What now?”

Reed swallowed hard. “The police want to see your financial records. They said… they received an anonymous tip.”

Harold’s face went red with rage. “Anonymous? You mean Alexander!”

He threw a stack of papers across the room. “That snake thinks he can destroy me? I made him!”

Reed took a step back. “Sir, maybe you should, ”

“Enough!” Harold shouted. “Leave me!”

Reed bolted out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Moments later, Harold snatched his phone and dialed a familiar number. “Victoria, pick up,” he hissed.

After a few rings, her voice came through, low and cold. “What do you want?”

“You know exactly what I want!” Harold snapped. “Your ex-husband is playing games. He’s destroying everything! I told you this plan was too risky.”

Victoria sighed softly. “You were the one who said it would work.”

“Don’t play innocent, Victoria. He’s coming after both of us!”

There was a pause, then her voice hardened. “Don’t drag me into this, Harold. My company is fine. Maybe you should’ve been smarter.”

The line went dead. Harold stared at his phone in disbelief. “She hung up on me,” he whispered. Then louder, furious, “That ungrateful woman!”

He paced back and forth, breathing heavily. His empire, everything he built, was collapsing piece by piece, and somewhere out there, Alexander was watching.

Alexander sat calmly in his office, sipping black coffee. Lady Ivy stood beside him, holding a tablet filled with live updates.

“Sir, Sterling International just lost its last investor. The police are investigating him for tax fraud.” Ivy said.

Alexander chuckled, “Good. Make sure the media keeps asking questions. The more he speaks, the more he’ll hang himself.”

“And Victoria?” Ivy quizzed.

Alexander responded smiling faintly “Leave her. Not yet. Let her think she’s safe. When the time comes, she’ll destroy herself.”

He set his cup down and stood. “Prepare the meeting room. I think Harold will visit soon.”

By noon, Harold’s black car screeched to a stop outside Sterling Tower. Reporters swarmed around, shouting questions. “Mr. Sterling, is it true you’re under investigation?”

“Are you losing control of your company?”

Harold ignored them, face red with fury, and stormed into the building. Guards stepped aside as he marched toward the top floor.

When the elevator doors opened, Alexander was already waiting for him, calm, composed, a faint smirk on his lips. “You look… tense, Harold.”

“You think this is funny? You ruin my company, and you stand there smiling?” Harold said as he gritted his teeth.

“I didn’t ruin it. I just pulled away the mask you were hiding behind.”

Harold slammed his fist on the glass table. “You’re nothing without me! You were just a scared little fool when I met you. I built your name!”

Alexander leaned back slightly, voice calm and sharp. “You built a cage and expected me to live in it. But you forgot something, Harold.”

He stepped closer, his eyes cold. “I’m not the man you used to control.”

Harold laughed bitterly. “You think this makes you powerful? This is just luck, Alexander. You’ll never be one of us.”

Alexander smiled, a slow, dangerous smile. “I already am.”

He pressed a button on his desk. A screen behind him lit up, showing live footage of Harold’s office being raided by the police.

Harold froze. “What… what is this?”

“Evidence. Every hidden account. Every forged signature. Every bribe you thought no one knew about.”

Harold’s face turned pale. “You… you set me up.”

“No. You set yourself up. I just made sure the world saw it.” Alexander replied.

He stepped closer, voice low but deadly. “You told me I’d always be beneath you. That I’d never deserve power. Tell me, Harold… how does it feel to fall?”

Harold’s breathing grew heavy. His hands shook with rage and fear. “You’ll regret this, Alexander.”

Alexander stared straight into his eyes. “No, Harold. You will.”

Security guards entered quietly, waiting for Alexander’s signal, but Alexander raised a hand. “Let him go.”

Harold turned, confused. “What game are you playing?”

“No game. I want you to walk out there and watch everything crumble on your own. That’s your punishment.”

He leaned in, whispering just loud enough for Harold to hear: “Death would be mercy. I prefer watching you live with shame.”

Harold glared at him, eyes full of hate, then stormed out. The elevator doors closed behind him.

By evening, Sterling International was finished. The stock collapsed. The police seized documents and accounts. 

Harold’s allies abandoned him, all except one man, who smiled coldly as he handed evidence to the reporters. That man had been Alexander’s spy all along.

Harold returned home that night to find his mansion dark and silent. His wife was gone. His staff had vanished.

On the table lay a single envelope with the company’s seal, Sterling International.

He opened it with shaking hands. Inside was a single sentence written in neat handwriting: “This is the price of arrogance. – A.S.”

He sank to his knees, the letter falling from his fingers. For the first time, Harold Sterling, the man who once owned half the city, felt truly small.

Alexander stood at the window, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. Lady Ivy entered silently. “It’s done, sir. Sterling has fallen.”

Alexander didn’t turn around. “Good. Let the city talk. Tomorrow, we move to the next name.”

Ivy hesitated. “And Victoria?”

Alexander’s eyes darkened. “She’s next.”

Outside, thunder rolled across the London sky, slow, deep, and full of promise.