Chapter 13 - The Cold Audit
The eight private guards raised their weapons, but Leo didn't even look at them. He simply raised his left wrist, tapping his custom smartwatch.
""Before you order them to shoot,"" Leo said, his voice echoing in the vast, vaulted cavern, ""check your biometric monitors. Every private contractor in this room is paid through an automated Swiss escrow account. An account that just ran out of funds.""
The guards glanced down at their tactical wrist pads. One by one, their displays flashed: SALARY TERMINATED. CONTRACT VOID.
The commander of the guard lowered his rifle, looked at Cross, and spat on the floor. ""Pleasure doing business with you, Cross. We're off the clock.""
Without another word, the entire security detachment marched toward the emergency exits, leaving Cross entirely alone.
""You can't do this!"" Cross shrieked, lunging toward the console to smash his palm onto the manual override. ""I built this system! I control the followers, the likes, the metrics of the human race!""
A heavy hand clamped down on Cross’s shoulder, twisting him around and slamming him hard against the console. Officer Vance stood there, bloodied and exhausted, with Claire standing behind him holding the digital warrant.
""Julian Cross,"" Vance growled, clicking heavy titanium cuffs over the billionaire's wrists. ""You are under arrest.""
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""For what?"" Cross screamed, struggling uselessly. ""What crime?""
Leo stepped onto the operator's platform, looking down at Cross with icy indifference. ""Market manipulation, treason, and failure to pay your child-labor sub-consultants.""
