“Mr. Collins.”
Richard recognized the voice.
A representative from Global Tech.
The competitor.
“We need to discuss the information you mentioned.”
Richard looked around his empty office.
The company he once controlled was slipping away.
His career was collapsing.
But he still had something valuable.
Information.
“The Westfield files are worth a lot,” Richard said.
The man on the phone stayed silent.
Richard continued.
“I know exactly what Pinnacle plans to do next.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“If they want to destroy me, they will learn that I can destroy them too.”
What Richard did not know was that someone else was already watching.
Not him.
His actions.
Jessica had expected retaliation.
She had prepared for it.
Diane’s security team had been monitoring unusual communications after Richard’s termination.
Every suspicious contact.
Every unusual meeting.
Every attempt to access company information.
And one name kept appearing.
Richard Collins.
Jessica received the report late that night.
She opened it quietly.
The first page was enough.
Meeting location.
Date.
Time.
Participants.
Global Tech representative.
Jessica stared at the document.
Victoria, standing beside her, looked shocked.
“He is actually doing this.”
Jessica nodded.
“Yes.”
Victoria’s voice became angry.
“After everything?”
Jessica closed the folder.
“That is why people like Richard are dangerous.”
“They believe losing power gives them permission to destroy what they cannot control.”
Diane looked at Jessica.
“What do we do?”
Jessica looked at both women.
“We let him finish.”
They looked surprised.
Jessica continued.
“People like Richard always reveal themselves when they think they are winning.”
She tapped the folder.
“We do not need assumptions.”
“We need proof.”
Three days later, Richard walked into a luxury hotel downtown.
He wore an expensive suit.
The same confidence.
The same arrogance.
He believed he was finally taking control again.
Across the street, a security team recorded everything.
Inside the hotel conference room, Richard placed a folder on the table.
“I have the Westfield financial models.”
The Global Tech representative looked interested.
“And the technology information?”
Richard nodded.
“Everything.”
He leaned back.
“Trade secrets.”
“Strategic plans.”
“Internal projections.”
“All of it.”
The representative asked:
“And what do you want?”
Richard smiled.
“A position.”
“A senior leadership role.”
“A place where people respect what I can do.”
The recording captured every word.
Every promise.
Every betrayal.
Richard had finally given Jessica exactly what she needed.
Proof.
When Jessica watched the recording later, she did not celebrate.
She simply closed her eyes for a moment.
Because this was no longer about revenge.
It was about protecting thousands of employees who depended on Pinnacle Tech.
She looked at Diane.
“Prepare everything.”
Diane nodded.
“The legal team?”
“Yes.”
“The board?”
“Yes.”
“Richard Collins?”
Jessica looked at the screen showing Richard shaking hands with a competitor.
“He is about to learn something important.”
Diane waited.
Jessica finished: