Chapter 4 - The Trap
Two months later, Derek was desperate.
His criminal trial was approaching, his bank accounts were empty, and Suzanne was threatening to leave him to fend for himself. He needed a miracle, and he believed he had found one when he heard that Sterling Logistics was looking to sign a multi-million-dollar contract with his former firm.
If Derek could secure a piece of that deal as an independent broker, he could clear his debts, hire a top-tier criminal defense lawyer, and regain his status.
There was only one problem: he needed insider information on Sterling’s bidding parameters.
Through a shady associate, Derek managed to obtain a leak—an anonymous tip stating that the lead consultant overseeing the Sterling contract evaluation was holding a private meeting at a quiet restaurant in Coral Gables.
Driven by arrogance and desperation, Derek decided to crash the meeting, intent on blackmailing or bribing the consultant to get the deal through.
That evening, Derek walked into the private dining room of the restaurant, putting on his old, polished smile.
"Good evening," Derek declared, pushing open the door. "I believe we have some business to—"
His words caught in his throat.
Sitting at the head of the table was Julian Sterling. And sitting right beside him, holding a thick dossier of financial records, was Skylar.
Skylar looked stunning. She wore a tailored crimson suit, her eyes cold and sharp as she looked up at him. There was no fear in her gaze—only complete, unwavering control.
"Derek," Skylar said softly, her voice echoing in the quiet room. "You're late."
"What is this?" Derek stammered, stepping back. "Skylar? What are you doing here?"
Julian casually leaned back in his leather chair, resting his hands on the table. "Miss Skylar is my primary strategic advisor, Mr. Vance. And the anonymous tip you received about this meeting? We sent it to you."
Derek’s heart dropped into his stomach. "You... you set me up?"
"You broke into confidential company files to track this meeting, Derek," Skylar said, lifting a manila folder from the table. "Inside this folder are digital logs proving you attempted to bribe an associate of Sterling Logistics to bypass our compliance check. You didn't just ruin your personal life three months ago... you just committed corporate fraud."
"You ruined my life!" Derek suddenly screamed, his face turning red as he pointed a finger at her. "You took my home! You took my money! You ruined my reputation over a stupid cup of coffee!"
Julian stood up slowly. His towering frame and quiet authority instantly made Derek look small and pathetic.
"She didn't ruin your life, Derek," Julian said calmly, his tone laced with ice. "You did that all by yourself the moment you laid a hand on her. And now, you're going to pay for it."
At that moment, two uniformed police officers stepped into the private room from the side entrance.
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"Derek Vance?" one officer announced, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "You're under arrest for corporate espionage and violation of a active restraining order."
As the steel cuffs clicked around Derek’s wrists, he looked at Skylar, his eyes wide with shock and defeat. Skylar didn't look away. She stared right into his eyes, showing him the quiet, unbroken power of the woman he thought he could crush.
