Chapter 37: The Ultimate Deception

Victor Pierce leaned back in his leather chair, confidence radiating from every inch of his approach, as the downtown skyline glittered in twilight darkness. He was in control. To him, the latest disclosures and financial inquiry that had rocked the company were merely irritations. This was simply a little irritation since storms have past in his realm. Years of honing his power had ensured he would not be harmed even with rumors of scandal. Benevolent behind his gloss, though, was a paranoia unquenchable.

Victor's phone rang, a message warning him that one of his main backers had changed their stock ownership. Aidan's team had precisely coordinated their purchase of shares via a proxy to gain controlling interest in one of Victor's largest holdings. But Victor, blind to the person behind it, just blamed disloyalty for the sale—a little irritation to deal with later.

As his notion came to pass, Aidan Pierce looked across town. Every element was working together, every athlete functioning precisely to wipe out Victor's domain. Marcus and Dominic carried out their duties exactly; Dominic followed and exposed private bank records, feeding just enough to the press to create public awareness without intervention. Aidan had sent reporters anonymous notes pointing them toward questionable transactions, sparking an impossible-to-kindle frenzy. He could almost hear his uncle's wrath from across the city as every fresh leak struck.

Victor tightened his grip on the edges of his desk, reading over the news items covering every channel, every feed right now. Every report more damning than the next, the charges aimed against his company were mounting. His phone vibrated still another message. Few others even knew; this one was anonymous and delivered right to his private phone. "Did you really think you could get away with it?" Uncle inquired.

blood boiling Victor's blood. He knew just the person behind this. Apparently surviving, his nephew had returned and was now working to discredit him. Still, Victor was enraged rather than unsettled. He would have done to cling onto his dominion, having built it with purposeful brutality. Aidan might have considered himself as bright, but Victor still had allies—that is, he thought.

In meantime Aidan was attentively observing Victor's response. Each hour Victor's paranoia grew more severe. Aidan had made sure Victor's closest counsel kept entirely in the dark on the real extent of his operation. Though Victor would never imagine it, the loyalty of people in his sphere turned out to be Aidan's greatest asset. The plan's subtlety was its actual brilliance. Marcus and Dominic had worked well to ensure Victor was more into his own lie every breadcrumb Aidan threw.

As the strain mounted, Victor began to doubt his own people, he turned on people he had once trusted. He urged everyone to come clean about treason and set closed-door meetings. Everywhere he turned he saw voices screaming against him, shadows of betrayal. To keep his adversaries at distance, he replaced long-time pals with even less dependability. He was unaware, though, that Aidan was already under great allegiance from the same people he had positioned in new positions of power.

To make his next move, Aidan got ready across town. As his empire collapsed, Victor had to press harder, surround him, and expose him utterly. Aidan got in touch with an old media source—a writer who had always been thirsty for a great scoop. He provided just enough data to stimulate interest—a few purchases implying a vast system of fraud and corruption. There was a front-page scandal under development, and Victor would not be able to handle this one.

Desperate now, Victor began calling to protect his goods. Still, every move he made seemed to backfire. Desperate, he ignored the same fundamental ideas of control he had formerly found tremendous gratification in. Allies beginning to question his reliability stopped his calls. Driven by Aidan's subdued manipulations, his paranoia turned him into a puppet—his every action predictable and easily under control.

Finally, in a last-ditch effort, Victor tried to face his advisers by gathering them into his office. Convinced a traitor was among his ranks, his gaze sliced every one seeking answers. He charged them one by one, but each allegation was so strongly rejected that even Victor began to doubt himself. Marcus did his share exactly; he had organized the conference to reduce suspicion. Calmly and free from fear, he reassured Victor of his loyalty—a gesture appreciated, however unwillingly. Even then, Victor felt uncomfortable as the conference approached to finish.

Aidan watched Victor's cascading breakdown back in his safe house on live news updates. The media abound with tales of dubious investments, financial inequalities, and connections to offshore havens. As the finale drew near, Aidan could see the momentum pushing his way. Knowing that the Pierce empire would shortly be once more his, he gave himself a rare moment of pleasure. Still, the fight is not finished—not yet.

In a last act of psychological warfare, Aidan dropped Victor one more anonymous note. This one said, more precisely, "You've lost." Victor felt a spark of hatred reading the note. Years of iron grip rule over his realm, yet suddenly his power was disappearing like sand from his fingers. Clutching his fists, he focused alone in his office with determination alone. If Aidan sought one, he would get war.

Victor moved with cold, analytical clarity. One of the few persons owing him complete loyalty, he called in behalf of an old friend. He put up mercenaries to kill Aidan regardless of the costs. This was personal, not regarding defending his realm. He would not let his nephew live to tell the story and humiliate him.

Aidan received notes that evening. "You're next," said a brief, dark, menacing sentence.