Volume 8: The Shadow War Escalates
Synopsis: Jack's position on Wall Street grows more stable, but his battle against the remnants of Richard's empire intensifies. A silent war unfolds in both the open and the shadows—and Jack faces greater challenges and dangers than ever before.
Chapter 3: Data Breach
"John, come to my office," Jack said into the phone, his tone calm yet cold, as if it were just another routine meeting. But John Smith, on the other end of the line, could sense the underlying threat in those simple words.
A few minutes later, John entered Jack's office, a carefully constructed smile plastered on his face, pretending as if nothing was amiss. He knew Jack's methods well—the young CEO was far from the straightforward businessman he appeared to be.
"Jack, what can I do for you? The company's been doing great lately; we old-timers are all proud of you," John said, trying to lighten the mood.
Jack didn't respond immediately. Instead, he slowly turned around, walked to his desk, and picked up a file. It was John Smith's background report—each page detailing the secrets of this seasoned board member.
He tossed the report onto the table with a thud that echoed through the room. John's heart sank with the sound.
"John, you've been with the company for many years, witnessed the rise and fall of Phoenix Capital," Jack finally spoke, his voice low and magnetic, though tinged with an almost imperceptible pressure. "You've contributed significantly to the company, and to Richard."
At the mention of "Richard," John's expression flickered briefly before returning to its composed state. "Richard... Ah, let bygones be bygones. I always admired Richard's abilities, but he... made mistakes."
"Is that so?" Jack smirked, his eyes sharp as knives, piercing through John's defenses. "Then, what mistake are you making now?"
John's face paled, sweat beads forming on his forehead. He tried to maintain his composure, stuttering, "Jack, what... what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"Don't understand?" Jack stepped closer, staring directly into John's eyes. "Need I remind you of your five million dollar gambling debt in Macau, or the frequent transactions in your offshore accounts? Should I list them one by one?"
John's mental barriers crumbled. He slumped into a chair, his face ghostly white. He knew—he was finished.
"Jack... I... I admit, I got into some trouble," John stammered, his voice trembling. "But I swear, I never intended to betray the company!"
"Is that so? Then how did HawkEye Investments manage to predict our investment strategies so precisely? Do they have the power to see the future?" Jack's tone carried a hint of mockery.
John was speechless, knowing further denial would be futile.
"Who told you to do this? Victor Sloan?" Jack's voice was icy cold.
John hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.
"Victor... he... he approached me, offered to clear my debts, in exchange for leaking Phoenix Capital's internal information," John whispered, almost confessing.
"You're pathetic," Jack scoffed, not hiding his disdain. "For a mere five million dollars, you sold out the company, sold out your conscience!"
Jack walked to the window, turning his back to John, his voice growing colder. "John, I'm giving you a chance. Tell me everything you know about Victor Sloan's plans, including his backers. If you cooperate, I might consider sparing you."
John grabbed at this lifeline, nodding vigorously. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you! Victor Sloan's plan is..."
He spilled everything like beans from a bag. Victor Sloan had been secretly gathering Phoenix Capital's internal intelligence, aiming to destroy the company through malicious short-selling and unfair competition, all to exact revenge on Jack. Behind Victor Sloan stood a powerful financial firm—the Golden Peak Group—a long-established giant on Wall Street.
Golden Peak Group? Jack frowned. This name was familiar. Richard had once collaborated with Golden Peak, but their relationship soured due to conflicting interests. Clearly, Golden Peak had been eyeing Phoenix Capital hungrily.
"What else did they make you do?" Jack asked.
"They also... instructed me to delay project approvals, creating chaos within the company, making things difficult for you," John admitted, his voice trailing off.
Jack took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. Now wasn't the time for rage.
"Alright, I understand," Jack turned around, looking at John. "From today, you remain a board member. Continue following their instructions, but we will monitor your every move to ensure no harm comes to the company."
John sighed in relief, nodding repeatedly. "Thank you, Jack, thank you. I'll cooperate, I'll cooperate!"
"But if you play any tricks, I promise you'll meet a worse fate than Richard," Jack warned, his eyes full of menace.
After dismissing John, Jack immediately called Kevin. "Kevin, put John under 24-hour surveillance. Ensure we have complete control over his actions. Also, investigate Golden Peak Group—I need all available information, as detailed as possible."
Hanging up, Jack rubbed his temples. He knew a fiercer shadow war was about to unfold. Victor Sloan was merely a pawn; Golden Peak Group was the true puppet master. He needed to tread carefully to avoid repeating past mistakes.
As night fell over New York, the city lit up with lights, but Jack had no heart for its splendor. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the endless stream of traffic below, he felt overwhelmed by the mounting pressures.
Data breaches, corporate spies, hidden enemies—one challenge after another piled up, adding to his stress. But he knew he couldn't retreat. He had to face these challenges head-on to protect Phoenix Capital, to secure victory for himself and those who trusted him.
Just then, his phone rang—it was Isabella.
"Jack, I found something about Victor Sloan that might help you," Isabella sounded somewhat weary.
Jack's heart leapt. "What is it? Tell me quickly!"
"Victor Sloan has recently been in contact with a hacker group called 'Shadow.' They specialize in stealing commercial secrets and conducting cyber-attacks. I suspect Phoenix Capital's data breach is linked to them," Isabella explained.
Jack took a deep breath. He was getting closer to the truth.
"Isabella, thank you. I owe you one," Jack said sincerely.
"No need for thanks, we're friends," Isabella laughed softly. "But be careful—Victor Sloan and Golden Peak Group aren't easy opponents. If you need help, feel free to reach out."
"Of course, I need your help," Jack smiled. "I'll find you soon, we'll have a drink together."
Ending the call, Jack felt slightly relieved. With Isabella's assistance, he believed he could overcome all adversaries.
He returned to his desk, opened his laptop, and began drafting counterattack plans. He would make Victor Sloan and Golden Peak Group pay for their actions!
Next, he needed to utilize every resource at his disposal, including the compromised John Smith and Isabella's underground connections. He would turn the tables on HawkEye Investments and Golden Peak Group, ensuring they paid dearly for their schemes.
That night, Jack stayed awake, meticulously reviewing his plans to ensure everything was foolproof. He knew he had to win this shadow war—not just for himself, but for the future of Phoenix Capital!