Volume 4: Counterattack from the Edge
Summary: After Richard's crimes are exposed, his former allies abandon him. He is left completely isolated, stripped of all support.
Dawn broke over New York, its pale light failing to warm the towering glass facades of the Klein Investments headquarters. Inside the top-floor office Harold Klein paced like a caged beast. The once-untouchable titan of Wall Street now found himself cornered. his empire crumbling beneath the weight of scandal.
His coffee had gone cold hours ago. The ashtray overflowed with stubbed-out cigars. His mind replayed the footage of Richard Black being led away in handcuffs. That fool! How could he have fallen so quickly?
His phone rang sharply. It was the board secretary. He hesitated before answering.
"Mr.Klein," came the voice, cool and detached, "the board has voted unanimously to convene an emergency meeting. Your presence is required immediately."
Harold's jaw tightened. The storm had arrived.
"I'll be there," he said flatly.
He walked to the window, gazing down at the glittering city below. Once, it had been his kingdom. Now, it felt like a prison closing in.
He straightened his suit, masking his turmoil behind a practiced composure, and headed for the door. Outside, his young personal assistant, Alex, stood pale and trembling.
"What is it?" Harold asked, keeping his tone measured.
Alex swallowed hard. "Mr. Johnson and Mr. Miller… they've both taken sudden medical leave today. They say they're not feeling well."
A bitter smile tugged at Harold's lips. Sudden illness—it was a lie, pure and simple. This was betrayal, raw and unmasked. Those who once bowed to his every word were now scrambling to distance themselves, eager to escape the fallout.
"They move fast," he muttered under his breath, eyes dark with disappointment and fury.
Without another word, he stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed and the cabin began its descent, so too did his spirit sink deeper into despair.
When he entered the boardroom, silence greeted him—cold, calculating, and devoid of loyalty. Faces that once flattered him now stared back with cold detachment.
At the center sat George Wilson, the COO and a master manipulator in his own right. He cleared his throat.
"Mr.Klein, given the current situation and your direct involvement in the Richard Black case, the board has decided to suspend your duties pending investigation by the FBI."
Harold staggered slightly. The final wall had fallen.
"You can't do this!" he barked. "I founded this company! Without me, there would be no Klein Investments!"
"We are aware of your contributions," George replied, unmoved. "But we must protect the company. We cannot allow it to be dragged down by your personal affairs."
"My affairs?" Harold spat. "You mean your own survival. You selfish, ungrateful cowards!"
"Enough," George cut in. "Security."
Two guards stepped forward, flanking him.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Harold struggled, but their grip was firm.
Just then, the conference room doors burst open. A group of FBI agents strode in, badges gleaming.
"Mr. Harold Klein, we suspect you of illegal trading, market manipulation, and obstruction of justice. Please come with us."
The words hit him like a hammer. There was no escape now.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit interrogation room at the FBI headquarters in Lower Manhattan, Richard Black sat disheveled and defeated.
"Talk," Agent Katherine Greene ordered coldly. "Tell us everything about how Harold Klein ordered you to frame Jack Reno. No omissions. This is your only chance to redeem yourself."
Richard knew he had no choice. He clutched at this last thread of hope.
"I… I admit it," he began. "Harold Klein directed me to ruin Jack Reno. He said Jack was a threat to his position on Wall Street. He wanted him eliminated."
He detailed every secret transaction, every manipulated trade, every calculated move. Then he pulled out his phone and played a hidden recording—one where Harold explicitly instructed him to destroy Jack.
Agent Greene listened in silence, her expression growing graver with each word. She knew this would shake Wall Street to its core.
In a top-floor suite at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, Jack Reno stood by the window, watching the endless flow of traffic below. His gaze was steady, his face calm—not triumphant, just resolute.
He picked up his phone.
"Kevin, are you ready?"
"Everything's set, Jack," Kevin replied, excitement barely contained. "All the media outlets are lined up. Just waiting for your press conference."
"Good. Let's do this."
He ended the call and turned to Isabella, who stood behind him with a radiant smile.
"We did it," he said softly.
"Yes," she whispered, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him. "You did it."
They held each other for a moment before walking out together, side by side.
As they entered the hotel lobby, they were immediately swarmed by reporters and cameras. Flashes exploded as journalists shouted questions.
"Mr. Reno, what are your thoughts on Harold Klein's arrest?"
"Will you return to Wall Street?"
"What are your future plans?"
Jack remained composed, addressing the crowd with clarity.
"Today, I'm here to say one thing—justice may be delayed, but it is never absent. Those who seek power through deceit will always fall. The law catches up to them in the end."
"As for returning to Wall Street—I love finance, I love this city. I won't let a few criminals steal my life's work."
"I hope my story inspires others. When faced with hardship, don't give up. Believe in yourself. Hold on. In the end, perseverance wins."
After the press conference, Jack exhaled deeply. He knew his journey of vengeance was nearly complete. A new chapter was about to begin.
The sky burned with twilight as Manhattan glowed in golden hues. Hand in hand, Jack and Isabella strolled along the shaded paths of Central Park.
"What's next for you?" she asked.
"I'm going to start my own firm," he said, eyes filled with vision. "One that helps people realize their dreams in finance."
"I believe in you," she replied. "You have limitless potential."
She leaned her head on his shoulder, and they walked on, bathed in the fading sunlight, savoring the rare peace after the storm.
They had weathered the worst—and emerged stronger.
This chapter marked the downfall of Harold Klein. Betrayed by all, he was handed over to the law. Richard fully cooperated, hoping to mitigate his fate. Jack's press conference reaffirmed his strength and purpose, setting the stage for his return. And as the sun dipped below the skyline, Jack and Isabella walked forward—into a future full of hope.