Chapter 34: Olivia’s Exposed Secret
Vincent tapped twice on the table, and the screen behind him updated with a new proposal.
🔍 Phase Two: Controlled Disclosure
Objective: Position Cornelius Holdings as victim of corporate espionage
Public Message: "Security breach detected. Proprietary data potentially compromised. Independent investigation underway."
Strategic Purpose: Create narrative confusion while maintaining victim status
"We implement this within the next six hours," Vincent announced. "Through secondary media contacts, not primary corporate channels. The message needs to appear as if we’re reluctantly acknowledging a problem rather than making accusations."
"Won’t that invite deeper scrutiny?" asked Gareth.
Helena answered before Vincent could respond, her voice carrying the kind of clarity that suggested she’d been following his logic perfectly. "It makes us look like victims rather than aggressors. If we were manipulating them, why would we admit to losses?"
Vincent’s eyes met hers across the table, and for a moment there was something almost like pride in his expression. "Precisely. We feed them doubt first, then we feed them fire."
3:30 PM - After the Meeting
When the meeting adjourned, Vincent left first—called away to review intelligence reports about competitor reactions to the morning’s events. As he passed Olivia’s position, he gave her a brief glance, a silent communication that said handle the follow-up efficiently. She nodded with professional crispness, but he caught the slight tension in her shoulders.
Helena lingered at the edge of the room, ostensibly reviewing her notes but actually waiting for the other department heads to leave. Vincent’s absence felt deliberate—he’d known this conversation would happen and had chosen not to interfere.