Chapter 291: Chapter 75 Vault Trap Exposed

Zoe’s POV

I’ve been trapped in this secure document vault for quite some time, and I’m starting to feel as dusty and forgotten as the classified files surrounding me. The sterile air and endless stacks of financial records were making me question my loyalty to this family. What I initially thought would be a quick intelligence assignment was turning into an extended sentence in information purgatory.

The monotonous silence was broken by my encrypted phone’s sharp ringtone. Glancing at the screen, my mood instantly brightened seeing the caller ID.

"Dad! I’ve missed you so much!" I answered with genuine enthusiasm.

"Have you really?" His voice carried that familiar dramatic tone. "Because it seems like my daughter has completely forgotten about her old man. Not even a secure message recently. You’re breaking your father’s heart, sweetheart."

"Sorry, Dad," I sighed, leaning back in my uncomfortable chair. "Family business has been absolutely insane."

"Is Dominic running you into the ground?" he asked with a hint of protectiveness. "Or have you finally taken over his operations and started giving him orders?"

I laughed, picturing my father’s expression. "Don’t worry, I’m still the one managing his chaos around here. But he’s got me digitizing some ancient client records from our offshore accounts."

"What do you mean?"

"I’m manually entering paper records from a fossil client called Capital Trust into our secure system. Since it’s all classified family business, I’m stuck doing it alone in this glorified bunker."

There was a pause on the other end. "That’s strange. I thought Dominic digitized everything when he took over the tech operations. Which company did you say?"

"Capital Trust."

"Hold on, sweetheart. Capital Trust hasn’t existed under that name for many years. They rebranded to Omni Ventures after the old don died."

"What did you just say?" My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

"The new generation changed the name after the founder was eliminated. They got tired of all the jokes from rival families about their board game connection. Omni Ventures is one of our major money laundering clients now." My father cleared his throat. "This sounds like family politics, so I’ll let you handle it. Love you, honey."

"Son of a bitch!" I hissed after ending the encrypted call.

That calculating bastard Dominic had sentenced me to vault purgatory as punishment! Omni was already our active client—their files would be digital and completely current in our secure servers. I slammed my laptop shut and gathered my belongings, rage building with each movement.

When I reached the executive floor of our legitimate front office, Mia’s expression told me she already sensed the impending explosion. I dropped my things unceremoniously on my desk and stormed into Dominic’s private office like a category five hurricane. The idiot was actually humming to himself while reviewing what looked like protection money reports!

"HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND, YOU ABSOLUTE BASTARD?" I slammed my palm on his mahogany desk with enough force to make his espresso cup jump.

Dominic jolted in his leather chair. "Zoe! What’s wrong? Is there a security breach?"

"Security breach? Are you kidding me, Frost? What made you think you could exile me to that digital tomb for weeks? Please, enlighten me about the thought process behind this genius plan." My voice dripped with venom.

"Calm down, Zoe. What are you talking about?" His facade of innocence only infuriated me more.

"What am I talking about? Omni Ventures, Frost! Formerly known as Capital Trust? Ring any bells, you absolute moron?" I leaned across the desk, attempting to grab his expensive tie. He jumped back, genuine fear flashing in his emerald eyes.

"Zoe, please, it was just a harmless retaliation!" He stood up, edging toward the reinforced door.

"A harmless retaliation? Switching someone’s ammunition with blanks is harmless retaliation. Condemning me to respiratory issues in that data vault is a declaration of war!" I followed his retreat step for step.

"Let’s discuss this professionally," he pleaded, palms raised.

"There’s nothing to discuss! I’m going to castrate you and feed your balls to the family’s guard dogs!" I snatched the letter opener from his desk and advanced toward him with deadly precision.

His face paled. "Zoe, I’ll give you whatever you want! Just put down the blade and let’s negotiate like civilized criminals."

"Now you’re scared? Should’ve thought about consequences before your little power play!"

"Please, Zoe..." He was visibly trembling as I cornered him against the bulletproof wall, holding the sharp implement dangerously close to his expensive trousers.

"Start explaining. Now." My voice was deadly calm.

"Can we sit down first? It’s hard to concentrate with sharp objects threatening my ability to produce heirs." Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the climate control.

I stepped back, gesturing toward his chair while keeping the letter opener firmly in hand. After we sat, he cleared his throat nervously.

"In my defense, I was furious and not thinking strategically. But you initiated this conflict." Before he could continue, I slammed my fist on the desk, making him jump.

"Explain better!"

"Gemma kept me aroused all night without allowing me to finish! Do you understand how torturous that is? My entire body felt like it was going to combust! And then I discovered you were the mastermind behind that psychological warfare!" His indignation was almost comical.

"How exactly did you discover this?" I fought to control my expression.

"That’s irrelevant to our negotiation!"

"It’s completely relevant!"

He sighed heavily. "I monitored your communications that day."

"So you’re conducting surveillance on family members now?"

"It’s my damn operation! Yes, I monitored communications! Christ, Zoe, you’re the most vindictive person in this entire organization." His complaints only made me laugh harder.

"You weren’t actually handling emergency family business that day, were you?" I asked, knowing the answer.

"Damn it, Zoe! Listen, I love Gemma more than this entire criminal empire. We’re in a stable place now. Please don’t sabotage this relationship." His plea was almost pitiful.

"You realize I’m going to make you suffer indefinitely for this stunt, right?"

"Fine, whatever, just don’t give Gemma any more strategic suggestions." He dropped his head onto the desk in defeat.

"You know I have to inform her."

"I know. Just don’t propose any additional punishments, please!"

"Alright, I won’t suggest more punishments... for now. But she’s going to unleash hell on you." He responded with a miserable groan. "Now I want compensation."

"What?" He lifted his head suspiciously.

"Your yacht for the weekend."

"WHAT? MY SANCTUARY? ABSOLUTELY NOT!" He roared as if I’d suggested selling his armored vehicles.

"Well, then I guess I’ll have to brainstorm some creative new torture methods with Gemma..."

"Damn it, Zoe!" He huffed in frustration. "Fine! I’ll have the crew prepare it for you. It’s yours starting Saturday morning."

"No, starting Friday night." He groaned dramatically.

I knew how protective he was of his precious floating fortress, so I was hitting him where it hurt almost as much as withholding physical pleasure—his prized possessions. It was perfect revenge for a Capo who thought he could outsmart his intelligence chief.

"Fine," he muttered in defeat.