Chapter 10 - The Consequence of Corruption
Maya lifted the silver cloche cover off the dish resting in front of Mayor Sterling.
Sitting on the porcelain plate wasn't gnocchi or steak. It was a thick, waterproof envelope stamped with the official seal of the State Ethics Committee.
Mayor Sterling stared at the envelope, his hands trembling as he refused to touch it. “What is this, girl?”
“Inside that envelope is a copy of every bank transfer Marcus made to your re-election campaign fund over the last six months,” Maya explained, her hazel eyes cutting through him like steel. “Including the fifty-thousand-dollar transfer made forty-eight hours before you signed off on the illegal foreclosure of my grandmother's restaurant.”
The city developers sitting at the table instantly scooted their chairs back, distancing themselves from the mayor as if he had a contagious disease.
“This is a setup!” Mayor Sterling yelled, standing up so fast his chair knocked over onto the hardwood floor. “You can't prove any of this!”
Adrien stepped directly into the mayor’s personal space, towering over him with terrifying physical presence.
“The State Prosecutor is waiting for you in the lobby, Sterling,” Adrien whispered coldly. “I suggest you walk out quietly before my men throw you out through the front window.”
Mayor Sterling looked around the room, desperately seeking support, but the entire restaurant was watching him in silence. Realizing he had been completely cornered, the mayor grabbed his coat and fled through the front doors, right into the waiting arms of state investigators.
May you like
The dining room erupted into applause as Maya stood in the center of the room, her head held high.
👉 Adrien turned to Maya and raised his wine glass in a solitary, powerful toast.
