30. Theodore
30
THEODORE
I cradle the glass of whiskey in my hand, the amber liquid catching the light as I swirl it slowly. The burn from the first sip lingers on my tongue, a welcome heat settling in my chest.
I pick up my phone, staring at the screen for a moment. The contact is waiting for me to hit dial. I press the call button, waiting as the phone rings in my ear.
My finger drifts to the edge of the glass, tapping it absently as I wait. It has been a long road to get here, and now, it’s all in motion—product hitting the shelves, business moving at a pace I hadn’t expected. Ebonridge’s borders are just the beginning—we’re already pushing beyond.
I take another sip of my Iron Veil whiskey as the phone continues to ring.
With every passing moment, the whispers of the past are beginning to clear. The truth is getting closer, and it feels like the end of it all is finally within reach.
The power, the control—it’s all falling into place.
It will soon all be mine.
Isabel’s articles she wrote exposing Vanguard and its elites have been making waves.
The paper is printing stories of corruption, fraud, and hidden agendas. The names of the men involved are surfacing, their pristine reputations unraveling in real time.
Carlton Pierce , the so-called philanthropist, is under investigation for embezzling millions from the charities he swore by. Samuel Hawke , the former senator, is being scrutinized for his connections to a series of shady business deals that stretch all the way to Europe . And Marcus Ellison ? A scandalous affair with a minor that’s about to destroy his political career.
It’s all coming out. The once untouchable men of Ebonridge , with their wealth, influence, and power, are finally being dragged into the light. And Isabel’s articles are at the forefront of it all.
The phone continues to ring, the sound growing almost rhythmic as I sit back, staring ahead. I’ve been waiting for this moment for years, and now that it’s here, I’m not about to waste it.
As the line rings a fourth time, I feel the weight of the decision I’ve made, but it doesn’t faze me. The world doesn’t wait for anyone, and neither will I . This is what I’ve worked for.
Once Vanguard implodes from the inside out, we’ll rebuild. We’ll take everything that’s left and make it ours, an empire forged from the wreckage of what Vanguard was, from the ashes of their power.
And this time? No one will stand in our way.
Finally , the line clicks, followed by a voice on the other end.
“ It’s about time,” they say, almost amused.
I lean back in my chair, swirling the whiskey in my glass. She knows exactly why I’m calling, and I’m sure she has been waiting for this as much as I have.
I take a moment before responding. “ Hello , Camila .”