Chapter 10 - The Counter-Strike
Before Julian could scramble for an excuse, a sleek black sedan pulled up directly behind the press horde. The rear door clicked open, and Silas stepped out onto the pavement alongside our lead corporate attorney, Arthur Pendelton.
Arthur didn't waste time with pleasantries. He walked straight up to Julian, pulled a thick sheaf of official court documents from his leather briefcase, and thrust them directly into Julian’s chest.
"You are currently being served with a federal injunction for defamation, slander, and tortious interference," Arthur announced in a booming, authoritative voice that the news cameras captured in crystal-clear audio. "Furthermore, our digital forensic team has already traced the financial wire transfers used to fund this smear campaign directly from a secondary bank account belonging to Beatrice Thorne. We are expanding the lawsuit to include conspiracy and targeted harassment."
The reporters gasped, instantly pivoting away from Julian. One of them shouted, "Are you saying Mrs. Beatrice Thorne orchestrated this media attack?"
"We are saying," Silas chimed in, stepping smoothly to my side and wrapping a protective arm around my waist, "that desperate people who lose their empires often resort to pathetic, illegal tactics. But the law has zero tolerance for harassment. Every single outlet publishing these fabricated claims will be included in the upcoming litigation."
Julian dropped the fake papers onto the sidewalk and turned tail, shoving past the cameras as he sprinted down the street like a coward.
The reporters immediately swarmed us again, but this time with entirely different questions.
"Ms. Thorne! Can you comment on your mother's ongoing financial collapse?"
"Will Emerald Infrastructure pursue criminal charges?"
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I looked directly into the primary camera lens, my expression serene, powerful, and utterly unshakable. "My company builds systems that bring clean water to communities in need. We do not negotiate with extortionists, and we do not let ghosts from the past dictate our future. The legal system will handle the rest."
We turned around and walked back into the pristine lobby of Emerald Infrastructure, leaving the media circus eating out of the palm of our hands.
