Chapter 42

**Brandon's POV**

The smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "Make him wait. Ten minutes." My voice carried that particular edge that made even seasoned executives flinch. *Let him stew. Fear makes men honest.*

Through the glass walls of my office, I watched our CFO's reflection in the window. Johnson stood in the reception area, already showing wrinkles from his constant fidgeting. *Guilty men always fidget.* His eyes kept darting to his phone, probably wondering if he had time to warn Matthew.

I turned my attention back to the financial reports spread across my desk,each page meticulously annotated by James. The discrepancies were obvious now that we knew where to look - clever, but not clever enough. *Matthew, Matthew. Did you really think you could hide this from me? In my own company?* The thought almost made me smile. Almost.

"Ten minutes have passed, sir." James's voice carried that perfect neutrality that made him invaluable. He understood the game we were playing - the careful chess match where timing was everything.

"Bring him in." I didn't look up from the documents,letting the weight of silence do its work. Johnson entered with the careful steps of a man approaching his executioner. His attempt at a confident smile looked more like a grimace.Even from here, I could smell his expensive cologne - another little luxury that should have been beyond his means. *Following the money always reveals the truth.*"Mr. Stark, about this morning's report-" His voice already held a tremor.*Too easy.*"Sit." I didn't bother looking up from the documents, letting him marinate in his own anxiety. Years of experience had taught me that silence was often the most effective interrogation technique.

James caught my eye, his expression carrying the question we'd discussed earlier. A slight shake of my head was enough-we'd worked together long enough that words weren't necessary. He knew his role in this play.

"Tll prepare the SEC documents," James announced as heleft,dropping the three letters that could end any Wall Street career. The effect on Johnson was immediate and visceral - a visible tremor ran through him,and his perfectly manicured hands clutched the armrests of his chair.

I let the silence stretch, mny fingers drumming a slow, deliberate rhythm against the polished surface of my desk. Each tap seemedI to increase Johnson's discomfort. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead despite the perfectly regulated temperature of my office. *The guilty always sweat.*

"You should understand how to read a balance sheet." I picked up one of the reports, noting how his eyes followed the movement like a mouse watching a snake. "These numbers. Walk me through them."

"Mr. Stark, if you're referring to the quarterly projections, I can explain-"His words tumbled over each other in their haste to escape.

"Three months." I cut him off smoothly, watching his face for the moment of recognition. "How long have you been falsifying these accounts?"The color drained from his face so quickly I could almost hear his blood pressure drop. "Falsifying? I don't-" "Do you really think I'd call you here without evidence?" The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as I leaned forward slightly.The movement was minimal, but its effect was immediate-Johnson pressed himself back into his chair as if trying to escape. "How much did Matthew offer you? Shares? Cash? Or something else?" "Sir, my relationship with Mr. Matthew Stark is purely professional-"The lie sat heavy in the air between us, amateur and obvious.

"Are you sure you want to stick to that story?" I stood with deliberate slowness, moving to the window like a predator circling its prey.Manhattan stretched out below, a concrete jungle where I'd spent years ensuring only the strongest - only the loyal- survived. "The SEC has become quite... zealous about financial fraud recently."

A soft knock interrupted whatever protest Johnson was about to attempt.James entered with a fresh stack of documents, his timing pefect as always.We'd choreographed this dance carefully, each movement designed to break down Johnson's already crumbling resolve.

"Tommy's complete statement has arrived, sir." James's voice carried just the right note of professional detachment.

*Perfect timing, as always.* I gestured for James to set the papers on my desk,watching Johnson's reflection in the window. The man looked ready to faint, his expensive suit now wrinkled and damp with fear sweat. *The higher they climb, the harder they fall.*

"This is interesting." I flipped through the pages with deliberate casualness,each turn of a page making Johnson flinch. "A twenty million dollar transaction through a Cayman Islands shell company. Care to explain?" Johnson's professional facade finally crumbled like a sandcastle in high tide. "Mr. Stark, please!" The words burst from him like water from a broken dam. "Matthew... he threatened my son's position at Goldman Sachs. Said if I didn't help, he'd make sure the boy never worked on Wall Street again!" "Continue." One word, but it carried the weight of an imperial command.The floodgates opened. Johnson's words tumbled out in a des perate rush- Matthew's plans, the fake accounts, the network of shell companies set up to hide the manipulation. Each confession added another nail to Matthew's coffin. By the time he finished, his expensive suit was soaked with sweat,the fabric probably ruined. *Such a waste.*

"He said you were too powerful," Johnson's voice had dropped to barely a whisper, the last gasps of a drowning man. "Said the group needed...needed balance."

"Balance." The word tasted like ashes in my mouth. I picked up my phone,pressing a single button. Within moments, two SEC agents entered the office with the silent efficiency of well-paid professionals. Johnson's face went from pale to ashen as realization dawned.

One of the agents stepped forward, his government-issue suit a stark contrast to Johnson's bespoke tailoring. "Would you come with us, please?"

I watched through the window as they led him away, his shoulders slumped in defeat. The afternoon sun caught on the surrounding skyscrapers, turning them into mirrors that reflected the power of the financial district. *Another piece removed from the board.*

"Should I alert Matthew about the investigation?" James asked once we were alone, his voice carrying that slight edge of anticipation I rarely heard.

"No." A smile curved my lips, but it held no warmth - just the satisfaction of a predator watching its trap close. "Let him enjoy his illusion of victory a little longer. Three days, James. In three days,he'll come crawling back himself."