The Waking Nightmare

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Julian froze. His blood ran straight to ice. The phone felt like a brick of lead in his sweating palm.

"V-Victoria?" he stammered, his eyes darting toward the empty elevators. "That's... that's impossible. You're in a coma."

Elena grabbed his forearm so hard her acrylic nails tore into his suit jacket. "Hang up! It’s a trick! It’s one of her lawyers using AI voice software!"

"Go ahead, hang up," Victoria replied over the line, her tone breezy, almost cheerful. "See what happens when the private security detail waiting outside your penthouse realizes their client’s checks just bounced."

"Victoria, listen to me," Julian pleaded, his voice cracking as cold terror gripped his spine. "You're confused. The doctors said you suffered brain swelling! You don't know what you're talking about—"

"I know you slipped crushed sodium pentothal and digitalis into my iced matcha every morning for three weeks, Julian," she interrupted, every syllable hitting like a sledgehammer. "I know Elena leased a duplex in Soho under an alias using my corporate account. And I know you both stood over my bed five minutes ago talking about power of attorney."

Elena snatched the phone from Julian’s hand, her composure shattering into hysterical shrieks. "You crazy bitch! You have no proof! The medical reports say you had an accidental overdose! Julian is your legal proxy—"

"Julian is broke," Victoria cut in coldly. "And you, Elena, are trespassing on private property every second you breathe near my car. Look up at the security camera above parking bay 4B."

Both of them snapped their heads up toward the ceiling. The little red light on the dome camera blinked once, twice, and zoomed in tight on their faces.

"Smile, sweethearts," Victoria murmured. "You're on the six o'clock news."

Before Julian could scream into the microphone, the call disconnected.

A second later, the heavy iron security gates at the parking garage exit slammed shut with a deafening crash, locking into the concrete floor. At the far end of the ramp, two black SUVs tore down the incline, high beams blinding them, tires screeching against the painted floor.