Chapter 6 - Blood in the Water
The next morning, the financial world woke up to an unprecedented bloodbath.
The morning headlines blared across every financial channel: **HUDSON HORIZON SUSPENDED. MERCER CAPITAL BOARD VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO OUST FOUNDER ETHAN MERCER.**
Inside a nondescript diner across the river in Queens, Ethan stared at a greasy television mounted in the corner. His suit was wrinkled and stained with mud, his beard stubble dark against his pale, haggard face. The waitress gave him suspicious glances, wondering if he could even pay for the black coffee sitting before him.
On screen, Martin Keller—Ethan’s most trusted COO and right-hand man—was standing before a battery of press microphones outside the New York Stock Exchange.
“Mercer Capital was deceived by Ethan Mercer’s reckless management,” Keller announced solemnly into the cameras. “Mr. Mercer systematically obscured the origins of the architectural blueprints for Hudson Horizon. The board of directors has voted to terminate his employment immediately for gross moral and fiduciary misconduct. We are cooperating fully with Aura Design Group and the Vance family to salvage the development under new leadership.”
Ethan slammed his mug onto the table, splashing coffee onto the Formica counter. “You traitorous bastard!” he hissed under his breath. Keller had been the one who urged him to divorce Claire quickly before the IPO so she wouldn’t get a cut of the windfall!
Then the broadcast shifted.
“In other news,” the anchor continued, “socialite Sabrina Lin has been detained at JFK International Airport after attempting to board a private flight to Dubai carrying over $1.5 million in undeclared corporate bearer bonds and jewelry seized from the Mercer estate. Authorities confirm she is being questioned in connection with corporate embezzlement.”
Ethan let out a bitter, strangled laugh. Sabrina had tried to flee with the remnants of his empire without even telling him. She hadn’t loved him; she had loved the Mercer billions.
Suddenly, Ethan’s cracked phone buzzed with an unknown number. He swiped the screen with trembling fingers.
“Hello?” he croaked.
“Mr. Mercer,” a smooth, authoritative voice answered. “This is the front desk of the Carlyle Hotel. A courier has left a formal summons for you. If you wish to address the final settlement regarding your personal debt before liquidation proceedings begin at noon, you will present yourself at the Vance Tower penthouse in two hours.”
Ethan’s heart pounded against his ribs. *A settlement.* Claire was willing to see him.
May you like
He threw two one-dollar bills on the counter, dashed out into the humid morning, and hailed a subway train headed for Manhattan. He convinced himself that if he could just look into Claire’s eyes, if he could remind her of how they used to stay up all night designing their first modest apartment, she would break. She was soft. She had always loved him with an almost naive devotion. She wouldn't let him end up on the streets.
***
