Chapter 13 - The Alliance of the Damned
While Clara was unearthing the dark truth of her mother's death, a new storm was gathering on the opposite side of the country. In the visiting room of the Alderson Federal Penitentiary, Beatrice Sterling sat behind a glass partition, her orange prison jumpsuit a stark contrast to her former designer luxury. Across from her sat Victoria Cross, the CEO of Cross Industries, the primary rival of Vanguard and a ruthless woman known as the "Black Widow of Wall Street."
"You look terrible, Beatrice," Victoria said, her manicured fingers tapping against the glass. "Who knew the grand queen of the Sterling estate would end up trading her caviar for prison slop?"
"Cut the pleasantries, Victoria," Beatrice hissed, her eyes dark with malice. "Clara has the deeds, she has the public sympathy, and she has the federal marshals backing her. But she doesn't have the technical specifications for the new autonomous fleet Vanguard is launching next month. I hid the source code in a private server before the feds raided my penthouse."
Victoriaâs eyes narrowed, a predatory smile spreading across her face. "And what do you want in exchange for that code, Beatrice?"
"I want Clara broken. I want her stripped of her reputation, her fortune, and I want her to watch Julian Vance die in front of her," Beatrice whispered, her voice trembling with raw hatred. "Do that, and the autonomous fleetâalong with the entire Vanguard empireâis yours."
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Victoria leaned back, thoroughly amused. "Consider it a done deal. I have connections inside the regulatory boards. By the time I am finished with Clara Vanguard, the public will think she fabricated the entire story to cover up her own mother's crimes."
The two women shared a silent, venomous understanding. The snake had been locked away, but its venom had just been passed to an even larger predator.
