Chapter 15 - The Trap at the Press Conference
On Friday afternoon, the grand ballroom at the Downtown Columbus Hilton was filled with tech executives, venture capitalists, and local news journalists.
Ethan stood on the stage behind a podium decorated with the Vanguard Analytics logo, preparing to announce the merger. I sat in the front row alongside Arthur and Marcus.
Right as Ethan began speaking into the microphone—"Thank you all for being here today for this monumental step forward"—the heavy double doors at the back of the ballroom burst open.
Diane marched down the center aisle, wearing a dramatic, rumpled fur coat, her hair wild, holding a microphone setup from a fake online podcast crew she had hired.
"Ethan Vance is a fraud!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the sound system. "He stole his family's property! He left his mother destitute! Look at this man claiming to be a business leader while his family starves!"
The room erupted into whispers. Camera flashes started going off everywhere.
Ethan didn't flinch. He didn't look surprised.
He leaned into his podium microphone and spoke calmly: "Bring up the screen, please."
May you like
Suddenly, the massive LED projectors behind the stage lit up.
Instead of a corporate presentation slides, the screens displayed a full court document folder, complete with the notarized spousal waiver, the forensic handwriting report, the Ring camera footage of the Christmas assault, and bank transfer statements showing over $180,000 paid to Diane over six years.
