Chapter 6 - The Federal IndictmentWhile life on the forty-second floor settled into a lethal, perfectly synchronized rhythm of corporate dominance and mutual respect, the outside world was catching up to Thomas Steves.
Federal prosecutors didn't take kindly to corporate espionage, wire fraud, and the illegal transfer of quantum encryption technology to foreign-backed shell companies.
By early November, the indictment against Thomas had expanded into a federal RICO sweep. His co-conspirators at Apex Logic had turned on him within forty-eight hours of his arrest, handing over encrypted hard drives, text message logs, and audio recordings that proved Thomas hadn't just stolen funds from Steves Technologies—he had actively plotted to sabotage the company’s infrastructure to force a distressed sale of his family’s empire.
I sat at my executive desk on a crisp Tuesday morning, watching live news coverage on CNBC of Thomas being led out of the federal district courthouse in lower Manhattan in handcuffs, his face shielded by a navy blue blazer, his expensive designer shoes scuffing against the concrete steps.
The screen flashed a bold headline:
FORMER STEVES TECH EXECUTIVE FACES UP TO TWENTY YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CORPORATE ESPIONAGE.
The office door opened, and Larkin walked in, holding his coffee cup, his eyes fixed on the television screen as well.
“End of an era,” Larkin remarked quietly, stopping beside my desk.
“End of a liability,” I corrected him, locking my computer monitor and sliding my tablet into my leather briefcase. “The federal receivership has officially released our Q3 assets from audit hold. Which means our stock valuation is projected to jump by fourteen percent at the opening bell.”
Larkin turned his head, looking down at me with that familiar, intense gaze that always felt like a challenge and an invitation wrapped into one.
“You know, most CFOs would celebrate a fourteen percent stock jump by taking the afternoon off,” Larkin noted.
“Most CFOs didn't spend three years watching idiots like Thomas ruin a company I actually cared about,” I replied, standing up and smoothing the lapels of my tailored navy suit. “What’s on the schedule for this afternoon?”
“A hostile takeover of a boutique AI firm in Silicon Valley,” Larkin said smoothly. “And then, dinner.”
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I raised an eyebrow. “Is that a business meeting or a personal engagement, Mr. Steves?”
“That,” Larkin murmured, closing the distance between us until his hand brushed against mine on the edge of the desk, “is entirely up to you.”
