Chapter 8 - The Security Footage
Elias was sitting nervously in Julian Sterling’s immaculate, glass-walled office when the call came through.
Julian listened quietly to his earpiece, his face remaining entirely unreadable.
"It seems Miss Vance has accused you of grand larceny, Elias," Julian stated matter-of-factly.
Elias felt the floor drop out from underneath him.
"What? No! Sir, I swear on my mother's life I didn't take anything!" Elias panicked, jumping up from his chair.
Julian raised a single, calm hand to silence the young man.
"Relax, Elias, I am well aware that you did not steal anything."
Julian tapped a button on his massive mahogany desk, and a large flat-screen monitor on the wall roared to life.
It displayed a crystal-clear, high-definition video feed of the employee locker room.
The video clearly showed Chloe Vance sneaking in, picking the lock, and stuffing the diamond watch into Elias's jacket.
"I upgraded the security systems in the employee areas last month," Julian explained smoothly.
"I believe in protecting my staff just as fiercely as I protect my guests."
Elias let out a massive breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his knees weak with relief.
Julian pressed a button on his intercom system.
"Bring Miss Vance and her father to my office immediately, and ensure the local authorities are waiting in the lobby."
Down in the lobby, Chloe was proudly detailing her fake story to a thoroughly unimpressed police officer.
When Julian's security team escorted her up to the executive floor, she assumed she was finally getting the apology she deserved.
She strutted into the office with her chin held high, her father trailing miserably behind her.
"I hope you are ready to fire this criminal, Julian," Chloe demanded, pointing a manicured finger at Elias.
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Julian didn't say a word; he simply pointed a sleek remote at the wall monitor and pressed play.
Chloe watched in absolute, paralyzing horror as her desperate crime was broadcast in vivid high definition.
