CHAPTER 6: THE BLEEDING PORTFOLIO
The bleeding started at exactly 9:00 AM when the market opened. It wasn't a dip. It was a hemorrhage.
Langley Corp's stock plummeted by thirty percent in the first ten minutes. The Wall Street Journal article had hit the internet with the force of a nuclear strike. "THE CARLISLE COVER-UP: HOW LANGLEY CORP DESTROYED A WHISTLEBLOWER." The article included high-definition scans of the exact documents Victor had seen on the tablet the night before.
Victor stood in his father’s office, watching the news anchors on the muted televisions scrambling to cover the story. His phone hadn't stopped ringing. Friends, investors, board members—everyone was demanding answers. He ignored all of them.
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“We need to issue a denial,” Richard said, pacing the room like a caged animal. “We claim the documents are forged. We sue them for defamation.” “Dad, they have your signature!” Victor shouted, the reality of their destruction finally cracking his privileged facade. “They have the wire transfers! The SEC is already freezing our operational accounts.” “I will not lose this company to a seventeen-year-old girl!” Richard roared. “She isn't seventeen anymore!” Victor shot back. “She is a ghost who owns our debt. She owns 18.4% of everything we have, and she just tanked the remaining 81.6%.”
A knock at the door interrupted them. The Chief Legal Counsel stepped into the office. He looked pale, carrying a single manila envelope. “Richard,” the lawyer said, his voice trembling. “I just got off the phone with the Department of Justice.” Richard stopped pacing. “And?” “They aren't just looking at corporate fines,” the lawyer swallowed hard. “They are pursuing criminal charges for obstruction of justice, perjury, and wire fraud. They have issued warrants.” Victor felt the floor drop out from beneath him. The money was gone. But now, the freedom was going with it.
