Chapter 61 - 60: Ambition, Apathy, and Anger
The Lancaster Estate — Private Conference Room.
Damian leaned forward, elbows on the glass table, fingers steepled under his chin.
"Do you all understand what we’re dealing with?" he said. "Because I’m not sure you do."
Eleanor Lancaster didn’t look up. She was checking her phone, her lips pursed in that familiar way that meant she was bored or annoyed—or both.
Raymond sat sideways in his chair, leg bouncing, the buttons on his shirt mismatched and his cufflink missing. Probably hungover. Again.
Eleanor spoke first. "We’ve filed the suit. Public opinion is neutral. Nothing’s changed."
Damian’s voice was tight. "Exactly. Nothing’s moving. And every damn day we wait, that money disappears further into the wind."
Eleanor finally looked up. "We’re not getting that money, Damian. You know it. Saito is three steps ahead. He filed every document. We can’t even prove they’re fake."
Raymond snorted. "They feel fake. That ’Aetherian Institute’? What the hell is that? Some made-up science cult? And the orphanage—where? In rural Asia? Africa? One photo on the website and no contact number. Come on."
Damian pointed at him. "Exactly. Paperwork can be faked. Shelters can be bought. People can be paid to sign what they don’t understand. This isn’t about what’s real. It’s about what we can expose."
Eleanor tilted her head. "So what? You want to accuse the country’s top lawyer of orchestrating billion-dollar fraud based on your feelings?"