Officer Davis glanced at Elias. Elias crossed his arms, smirking victoriously. "Let him call his public defender, officer. I want this trash out of my building."
With my right hand still free, I reached slowly into the deep inner pocket of my faded canvas jacket. I bypassed the crumpled contract. My fingers closed around the cold, heavy metal of my encrypted corporate smartphone. It was a stark contrast to my clothing—a custom-built, secure device designed specifically for high-level executives.
I pulled it out. Officer Davis raised an eyebrow at the expensive device in my dirty hands.
I didn't open the dialer. I didn't search for a contact. I just pressed my thumb against the biometric scanner and held down the single, large red button on the home screen.
The phone beeped once, an echoing, sharp digital tone.
The speakerphone activated automatically.
"Sir?" The voice on the other end was deep, urgent, and instantly recognizable. It was David Mercer, my Vice President of Global Security.
"David," I said, my voice eerily calm as I stared directly into Elias's confused eyes. "Execute Protocol Vanguard. Bring the board. Bellevue branch. Front floor. Right now."
"Understood, sir. Two minutes out." The line clicked dead.
Elias let out a mocking laugh, shaking his head. "Protocol Vanguard? What is that, the code word for your homeless shelter buddies to come pick you up? Put the cuffs on him, officer."
Officer Davis yanked my arm back to attach the second metal restraint.
But before the metal could click into place, a deafening, unified roar of high-powered engines echoed through the glass walls of the dealership outside.
I turned my head slightly, looking through the gap in the wooden blinds.
The entire showroom floor outside had descended into absolute, paralyzed silence. Through the massive front windows, three identical, black armored Lincoln Navigators violently jumped the front curb, throwing the dealership's pristine landscaping into the air as they parked aggressively, completely blocking the main entrance.
The heavy doors of the SUVs swung open in unison.
The atmosphere inside the showroom instantly shattered.
From the gap in the blinds, I watched as twelve men in sharp, tailored black suits poured out of the SUVs. They moved with frightening, military precision. Half of them immediately secured the front exits, physically blocking the dealership doors. The other half, led by a towering, broad-shouldered man with silver hair, marched straight onto the showroom floor.
It was David Mercer. And walking closely behind him were three members of my executive board of directors, their faces completely drained of color as they scanned the room in sheer panic.
Inside the locked office, Officer Davis froze, his hand still hovering over the second handcuff on my right wrist. He looked out the window, his police instincts instantly recognizing that whoever had just arrived possessed an immense, terrifying amount of power.
Elias was staring at the blinds, his jaw slightly slack. He recognized the executives immediately.
"That's... that's the corporate board," Elias muttered, completely confused. He quickly adjusted his tie, his narcissistic brain desperately trying to rationalize the situation. "Why are they here? David Mercer never leaves headquarters. This must be a surprise audit for the regional promotion. They came to tell me I got the job."
Elias rushed to the door, shoving past the police officers. He threw the heavy oak door wide open and stepped out onto the showroom floor, instantly plastering on his most charming, sycophantic smile.
I stepped out of the office right behind him, my left wrist still bound in cold metal, the steel chain dangling freely against my faded jacket. The showroom was completely dead silent. Every salesperson, every client, and the two security guards who had manhandled me earlier were frozen in shock, staring at the army of corporate security swarming their building.
"David!" Elias called out loudly, walking briskly toward the Vice President with his arms wide open. "What an unexpected honor! I apologize for the commotion, we were just dealing with a violent trespasser—"