On my screen, another Bloomberg alert flashed.
Neuroch Solutions announces new investment division. Industry veterans join leadership team.
Right on cue, my phone rang.
Mother’s number.
“Darling.” Her voice dripped honey and desperation. “We simply must talk about this unfortunate misunderstanding.”
“Your father and I are facing financial ruin if Michael’s firm collapses,” I finished. “Which it will once the SEC investigation starts.”
Silence.
Then, “How did you—”
“I know everything, Mother. The mortgages, the loans, the shell games Michael’s been playing with your money. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”
“Alexandra, please.”
For the first time in my life, I heard real fear in her voice.
“Be at my office tomorrow, 9:00 a.m. Bring Dad and Michael. Leave Diana at home. This is family business.”
“Your office? But we don’t know where—”
“Look up.”
I watched through my window as my father finally raised his head, seeing the Neuroch Solutions logo gleaming on the building he’d been parked beside for hours.
“Forty-first floor,” I said. “Don’t be late.”
I ended the call and turned to my team.
“Maya, prepare the bailout paperwork, but with our conditions. Sarah, call the SEC. Tell them we found irregularities in Bennett Financial’s records that we’d like to address privately first.”
“And Michael’s managing partner?” Sarah asked.
“Let him sweat until tomorrow. Fear is a powerful motivator for cooperation.”
They left to execute the plan, leaving me alone, looking out over the city.
On my desk, the family photo from Sunday brunch sat next to the Bloomberg article announcing my company’s emergence. The contrast between their pitying looks then and their panic now was striking.
But this wasn’t about revenge. It was about rebuilding.
On my terms this time.
Tomorrow, I would offer them salvation.
But first, they needed to understand exactly who they were dealing with.