Dominic: "You think a video clip is going to put me in prison?! I have controlling interest in the estate bank!"[cite: 1]
Julian: "Not anymore. As of five minutes ago, the federal government froze all your private accounts."[cite: 1]
Dominic: "On what grounds?!"[cite: 1]
Maya: "On the grounds of attempted murder, trust fund fraud, and the murder of Julian’s wife two years ago."[cite: 1]
The room fell dead silent as Dominic's hands began to shake uncontrollably[cite: 1].
Dominic: "You... you can't prove Sarah's accident! That case was closed!"[cite: 1]
Julian: "We found the mechanic you paid fifty thousand dollars to cut her brake lines, Dominic. He confessed an hour ago when federal agents raided his shop."[cite: 1]
Dominic reached frantically inside his suit jacket, pulling out a small black remote detonator[cite: 1].
Dominic: "If I'm going down, I'm taking this entire building with me! There are explosive charges in the basement server room!"[cite: 1]
Several board members screamed, scrambling out of their leather chairs toward the exit doors[cite: 1].
Dominic: "Back up! All of you! Julian, sign over your board voting rights now or I press this button!"[cite: 1]
Noah hid behind Maya, holding onto her jacket with trembling fingers[cite: 1].
Noah: "Maya... is he gonna blow us up?"[cite: 1]
Maya: "No, Noah. He's not going to do anything."[cite: 1]
Maya calmly stepped forward, showing no fear as she walked directly toward the armed billionaire[cite: 1].
Dominic: "Stay back, maid! I'll press it! I swear to God I'll press it!"[cite: 1]
Maya: "Go ahead. Press it."[cite: 1]
Dominic slammed his thumb onto the red detonator button[cite: 1].
Nothing happened. A dull click echoed through the silent boardroom[cite: 1].
He pressed it again and again, frantic tears forming in his eyes[cite: 1].
Dominic: "Why isn't it working?! What did you do?!"[cite: 1]
Maya: "My brother is a chief explosive technician for the city bomb squad. His team disarmed your charges twenty minutes before this meeting started."[cite: 1]
Dominic dropped the useless remote onto the floor, his face draining of all color[cite: 1].
Julian: "It's over, brother."[cite: 1]
The boardroom doors slammed open once again, and four FBI tactical officers marched in with weapons drawn[cite: 1].
FBI Agent: "Dominic Vance! Put your hands behind your head! You are under federal arrest!"[cite: 1]
Dominic dropped to his knees on the carpet as the agents kicked him to his stomach and snapped heavy steel handcuffs around his wrists[cite: 1].
Dominic: "Julian! Please! We're blood! You can't let them do this to me!"[cite: 1]
Julian: "Blood protects family, Dominic. You were never family."[cite: 1]
As the agents dragged Dominic out of the room, the board members let out a collective sigh of profound relief[cite: 1].