Chapter 9 - The Fall of the King
The heavy doors at the back of the cathedral swung open once more with a thunderous bang.
Four federal marshals, accompanied by two investigators from the Securities and Exchange Commission, marched down the center aisle, their badges gleaming under the stained-glass light.
The lead marshal stepped onto the marble altar, unhooking a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt.
"Tristan Davis," the officer announced, his voice booming over the sound system. "You are under arrest for commercial espionage, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets, and corporate embezzlement."
Tristan backed away toward the choir stalls, his eyes darting frantically across the sea of four hundred cameras, smartphones, and journalists documenting his absolute annihilation.
"Wait! This is a private misunderstanding!" Tristan pleaded, his voice cracking like dry wood. "David! Talk to them! I'm the CEO of this company!"
David Sterling stepped into the center aisle, his eyes colder than the Pacific Ocean.
"You were the CEO, Tristan," Sterling declared with brutal finality. "As of three minutes ago, the board held an emergency telephonic vote based on the filings submitted by Hastings & Vance. You have been terminated for cause, effective immediately. Every unvested share you hold has been canceled."
The marshals grabbed Tristan’s arms, forcing him down against the communion rail and ratcheting the cold steel handcuffs around his wrists.
Down in the pews, two female federal agents approached Tessa Jenkins.
"Miss Jenkins," the agent said calmly. "You are being detained as a co-conspirator in the unauthorized transmission of proprietary biotech assets."
Tessa burst into hysterical sobs, screaming and kicking as she was escorted down the side aisle, her designer lavender dress snagging on the wooden pews.
As Tristan was hauled down the center aisle past the flashing cameras of the world's most influential tech publications, he looked back at me one last time.
His hair was ruined, his tie was crooked, and his eyes were hollowed out by the realization that his entire empire of lies had crumbled to dust in less than fifteen minutes.
I stood at the top of the altar steps, tall, composed, and completely serene.
I took the three-carat diamond ring off my finger, held it up between my thumb and forefinger, and let it drop.
May you like
The diamond bounced down the marble steps with a tiny, sharp clatter, rolling into the gutter at the base of the altar.
"The wedding is canceled," I announced to the silent room. "The reception, however, will be held at the Fairmont Hotel to celebrate the appointment of our new Chief Executive Officer."
