Chapter 7 - The Masterpiece of Rebuilding
The next morning, the headlines across the financial world were unanimous:
"AARON PRESCOTT OUSTED: THE TRUE BRAINS BEHIND PRESCOTT TECH REVEALED AS VANCE HEIRESS ALYSSA VANCE"
"PRESCOTT TECH REBRANDED AS AEGIS CYBERNETICS: ALYSSA VANCE TAKES OVER AS CEO"
Inside the newly renovated corner office of Aegis Cybernetics—formerly Prescott Tech—I sat behind a large glass desk, overlooking the skyline of Manhattan.
The company was thriving. Within forty-eight hours of my taking over as CEO, the stock suspension was lifted. Vance Global injected $2 billion into the firm, the thirteen core patents were fully integrated into a new military cyber-defense initiative, and the market capitalization skyrocketed past $10 billion.
The executive team—including Daniel, who was promoted to Chief Operating Officer—stood around my desk, presenting the quarterly reports.
"The board is thrilled, Ms. Vance," Daniel reported with a proud smile. "Our new enterprise contracts with European defense allies have been signed. We are officially the highest-valued cybersecurity firm on the East Coast."
"Good work, Daniel," I said, signing the final document. "And what is the status of Mr. Prescott’s personal legal proceedings?"
Daniel pulled up a file on his tablet. "Aaron Prescott has officially declared personal bankruptcy. His estate in the Hamptons and his penthouse in Manhattan were seized by Aegis Holdings to satisfy his outstanding fraud liabilities. His mother, Eleanor, has had her country club memberships revoked due to unpaid debts."
"And Jasmine?"
"Working at a small car rental agency in New Jersey, sir. Facing civil suits from the SEC for insider trading."
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I leaned back in my leather chair, taking a sip of hot tea.
There was no joy in seeing their destruction, but there was a profound, quiet justice in it. They had tried to consume my wealth while crushing my dignity. In the end, they had simply consumed themselves.