Damon’s Perfect Party
Chapter 04 - Damon’s Perfect Party
Damon had planned the party for six months.
It celebrated ten million followers, a new investment fund, and his father’s announcement that Damon would become Northstar’s youngest executive director. The guest list included celebrities, founders, athletes, and reporters who pretended not to be reporters.
Every camera was useful.
Until Ethan arrived.
Damon’s brand depended on one idea: he deserved everything visible around him.
The mansion.
The cars.
The women beside the pool.
The company waiting behind his surname.
He often told interviewers he started with nothing. In reality, nothing meant one trust fund, three private schools, and a father who removed every consequence before it became public.
Damon did not know the legal structure beneath the estate. Malcolm said the Hale family had no surviving claim. He said Adrian’s widow accepted a generous settlement and disappeared.
Damon assumed poverty had solved the rest.
Now Ethan stood beside the pool holding Adrian’s watch while the mansion rejected every Cross access code.
Damon grabbed Victor’s arm.
“Override it.”
Victor lowered his voice.
“The system recognizes founder authority.”
“Then cut the power.”
“The backup network is independent.”
Damon looked toward the city.
Guests were still filming.
He needed control of the scene before facts became viral without him.
He smiled for the phones.
“Everyone relax. This kid hacked the house. Security will handle it.”
Ethan looked at the sealed case.
“Ask Victor what happens if security removes the verified beneficiary.”
All eyes turned.
Victor’s face tightened.
“The property enters evidence lockdown.”
“What does that mean?” Damon demanded.
“Every interior recording, financial log, and access record is copied to independent servers.”
Silence.
The mansion contained years of private meetings.
Damon’s parties.
Malcolm’s negotiations.
Payments discussed without contracts.
Guests who trusted glass walls more than witnesses.
Damon released Victor.
Ethan saw fear move through the crowd in waves. Not fear of danger.
Fear of records.
He checked his watch again.
May you like
“The audit team arrives in twelve minutes.”
Damon’s smile vanished completely.
