Chapter 7 - The Whispers of PowerThe high-ceilinged conference room at Sterling, Vance & Associates smelled of old mahogany, leather, and stale espresso. Sunlight cut through the blinds in sharp horizontal slats, illuminating dust motes suspended above the long glass table.
High-stakes strategy meeting in the boardroom. Nguồn: Antonio_Diaz / Getty Images
"If this goes public before the preliminary hearing, the firm's reputation won't survive the splash damage," Arthur Vance said, leaning his heavy forearms on the table. His graying hair was meticulously slicked back, but the dark circles beneath his eyes betrayed a restless night.
Evelyn didn't blink. "Our priority isn't the firm's stock value, Arthur. It's control over the narrative. If we react defensively, we signal guilt."
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"Guilt or innocence is irrelevant if the prosecution locks down the financial records first," replied Richard, head of corporate defense, tapping a thick blue folder against the glass. "They've subpoenaed the offshore accounts linked to the foundation. Someone inside opened the door for them."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Evelyn looked at each face around the table—colleagues she had trusted for over a decade. Every one of them possessed the expertise to build an ironclad defense, and every one of them had the access required to orchestrate a betrayal.
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