Chapter 8 - The Federal Hammer Falls
Before Grant could open his mouth to beg, the heavy mahogany double doors of Bellweather House swung open with a resounding bang.
Six federal agents in dark windbreakers, accompanied by four uniformed Chicago police officers, marched down the grand foyer. Leading them was a sharp-faced woman holding a signed federal arrest warrant.
"Grant Holloway?" the lead agent announced, her voice cutting through the hall with bureaucratic finality.
Grant looked up from the floor, his face pale as chalk, tears of sheer panic finally spilling down his cheeks. "Wait! This is a misunderstanding! I can pay restitution! I have sixty million in escrow!"
"Not anymore, Mr. Holloway," Roman Vale said, taking a slow step forward. "Vale Meridian filed an emergency freeze on all Ironclad assets two hours ago. The judge granted full seizure twenty minutes before I walked down those stairs."
Roman turned his gaze down onto Grant, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper that resonated through the entire ballroom.
"Your firm’s business with Vale Meridian ends tonight. In fact, Mr. Holloway... your life as a free man ends tonight."
The federal agents moved in without hesitation. Two officers hauled Grant to his feet, pulling his arms behind his back. The sharp, mechanical click of steel handcuffs echoed across the silent room.
Grant thrashed in their grip, losing his composure completely. "Claire! Claire, please! Remember what we had! You can't let them do this to me! Tell them you dropped the charges! Claire!"
Claire didn't flinch. She watched with calm, unblinking eyes as the officers pushed Grant toward the doors.
"I didn't drop the charges, Grant," Claire said quietly. "I wrote them."
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