Volume 5: Wall Street Rises Again
Volume Summary: Jack returns to Wall Street, only to find that things are far more complex than he imagined. Richard's remaining influence still lingers, and a far greater conspiracy awaits him. He must proceed with extreme caution if he is to eliminate these threats and restore order to Wall Street.
Chapter 8: Peril at Every Turn
Jack Chen paced back and forth in his expansive office, the sound of his footsteps sharp against the silence. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight bathed the city in golden hues, but inside, a heavy shadow loomed. He knew the carefully crafted meeting invitation had already been sent—like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples through the darkness where unseen predators stirred.
Mark and Isabella stood on either side of him, the air between them taut with tension. Their late-night conversation had made one thing clear—the enemy they now faced was more cunning and dangerous than ever before.
"Mark, any progress on the Poseidon Fund?" Jack stopped pacing, fixing Mark with a piercing stare.
Mark shook his head, frowning. "I've combed through every offshore bank in the Caribbean, but the Poseidon Fund is buried deep. I managed to trace some scattered transactions—they all lead to a company called The Pyramid Group, registered in the Cayman Islands. The owner is an Englishman named Oliver Greene."
"Oliver Greene?" Jack repeated the name slowly, a flicker of suspicion igniting in his mind. Could this low-profile British investor hiding in the Caymans really be pulling the strings for Richard's remnants? Something didn't feel right.
"Is there anything unusual about him?" Isabella asked, her fingers swiftly scrolling through data on her tablet.
"He operates in the shadows, rarely appears in public, but has a strong reputation in financial circles—as an advisor to several major funds," Mark explained. "Still, I suspect he's just a puppet. The real mastermind is hiding much deeper."
Jack nodded in agreement. A puppet would need to be chosen carefully. Oliver Greene might just be a smokescreen.
"Isabella, did you release the false information?" Jack asked.
She smiled confidently. "Yes. I used several trusted channels. Now the entire Wall Street rumor mill is buzzing. Everyone thinks we've uncovered a secret agreement between Universal Investments and the Richard family. If we go public, their whole operation collapses."
"Good." Jack allowed himself a slight smile. "Now let's see who cracks first."
Time ticked by, each second tightening the pressure around them. Jack knew this internal meeting would be a meticulously orchestrated trap—one misstep, and everything could unravel.
At ten o'clock sharp, Jack's office filled with his core team. Alongside Mark and Isabella were Andrew, the finance director; Katherine, the risk manager; and Robert, the chief legal counsel. Each wore a mask of professionalism, but beneath it, unease simmered like a storm waiting to break.
Jack scanned the room, letting his gaze linger on each face. Somewhere among them lurked a traitor—a spy who had walked beside him, whispered lies into his ear, and waited for the perfect moment to strike.
"This meeting is crucial," Jack began, his voice steady and commanding. "It concerns our next steps. Through our investigation, we have gathered substantial evidence against Universal Investments—and the Richard family's illegal activities. It's time to deliver the final blow."
Andrew adjusted his glasses, cautious. "Jack, what exactly is our next move? Are we going straight to the SEC?"
Jack shook his head, a slow smirk curling his lips. "No. We don't make it that easy for them. We want them ruined—financially, socially, completely."
Katherine leaned forward, eyes sharp. "What do you mean?"
Jack strode to the whiteboard and wrote three words in bold strokes: Media Exposure, Legal Prosecution, Financial Strike.
"We start with the media," he said, pointing to the first. "We expose the Richard family's darkest secrets until they become pariahs in the public eye."
"That part's already in motion," Isabella interjected. "I've reached out to several major outlets. They're eager for the story—if we provide the proof."
Jack gave a nod of approval. "Efficient as always."
He moved to the second point. "Next, we initiate legal proceedings against Universal Investments and the Richard family. We bring them to court and make them answer for their crimes."
"I'll handle that," Robert said confidently. "I know how to take down powerful players in court."
Jack smiled slightly before shifting to the last item. "And finally, we strike financially—we dismantle their assets, destroy their cash flow, and leave them with nothing."
He paused, lowering his voice deliberately. "I've already drafted a detailed plan. Follow it precisely, and they will fall. I've emailed everyone the full strategy—please review it thoroughly."
He drew a thick line under the word Financial Strike.
As the meeting ended, each person left the room with a different expression. Mark and Isabella understood—Jack had intentionally revealed key details to lure out the mole. Meanwhile, Andrew, Katherine, and Robert each carried their own thoughts, their own secrets. No one could be certain who the true traitor was.
That night, Jack sat alone in his office, waiting. The lights of New York shimmered outside like a vast chessboard. And somewhere beyond those lights, an invisible opponent was moving its pieces.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.
Jack inhaled deeply and answered.
"Mr. Jack Chen?" came a raspy voice from the other end.
"Yes," Jack replied evenly, his tone betraying nothing.
"I know what you're investigating—the Richard family, Universal Investments. I can give you the truth… but I have a condition."
Jack's lips curled slightly. "Go on."
"Meet me tomorrow night at the Manhattan docks. I'll tell you everything." There was a brief pause, then the line went dead.
Jack set the phone down, a cold smile spreading across his face. The hunter had taken the bait.
"The show," he murmured, eyes gleaming with quiet menace, "has just begun."
Tomorrow night at the Manhattan docks would be no ordinary meeting—it would be a battlefield cloaked in shadows. Jack knew he had to be ready. This was the final act in a deadly game, and failure was not an option.