Chapter 10 - The Unraveling
The auditorium door flew open, and Nathaniel strode in, followed closely by two private security officers and the venue director. His face was a mask of thunderous fury. He had seen the screen flash before the system was cut; he had seen the cowardly attempt to smear the woman he loved.
He stopped when he saw Vanessa tangled in the velvet curtains on the floor, struggling furiously, and Elena standing calmly beside the control console.
“Nathaniel!” Vanessa shrieked, tears of rage streaming down her face as she looked up at him. “She attacked me! Look at what she did! She’s a fraud, Nathaniel—she lied about everything, she—!”
Nathaniel didn't look down at her. His eyes were fixed entirely on Elena. He walked past Vanessa as if she were nothing more than a piece of discarded trash on the carpet, stopping directly in front of Elena.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly with suppressed rage.
“I’m fine,” Elena said, her breathing steadying as she met his gaze. “She tried to broadcast fabricated files to the main hall. The drive is under the server rack.”
Nathaniel nodded once. He gestured to the security guards. “Escort Miss Lowell out of the building. Hand her over directly to the federal marshals waiting at the service entrance. Ensure her arrest warrant for corporate espionage and restraining order violations is executed immediately.”
“Nathaniel, you can’t do this! I’ll ruin you! I’ll destroy everything!” Vanessa screamed as the two burly guards hoisted her to her feet, dragging her kicking and thrashing down the hallway.
The heavy door clicked shut, sealing away the last remnants of the past.
Nathaniel turned back to Elena, gently taking her face in his hands. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
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“I am,” Elena whispered, smiling faintly. “The screens are off. The guests are waiting.”
“Let them wait,” Nathaniel murmured, leaning down and kissing her gently, fiercely, right there in the quiet glow of the AV booth. “Let’s go finish the night together.”
