Jake pushed through the courtroom doors and didn't look back.
Behind him, voices called out. The bailiff asking if he needed medical attention. Patricia's heels clicking as she rushed to Elena's side.
None of it mattered anymore.
The divorce was final. Elena was someone else's problem now.
Jake walked down the courthouse steps. The morning sun was bright. Too bright after the fluorescent lights inside. He squinted and kept moving.
His car was in the visitor lot. Not the scooter. He'd left that behind days ago. Instead, he'd driven the Bentley. Black. Sleek. The kind of car that turned heads.
He was halfway across the parking lot when he heard footsteps behind him.
Fast. Heavy.
Jake turned.
Victor Steele was striding toward him. Face red. Jaw clenched. The expensive suit couldn't hide the rage radiating off him.
"Morrison!"
Jake stopped. Waited.
Victor closed the distance. Got right in Jake's face. Close enough that Jake could smell his cologne. Expensive. Probably cost more than Jake used to make in a week.
"What the hell was that?" Victor's voice was low. Dangerous. "Where did you get that money?"
"Good morning to you too, Victor."
"Don't." Victor's finger jabbed toward Jake's chest. "Don't play games with me. A week ago you were broke. Pathetic. Now you walk into court with ten million dollars? That doesn't just happen."
Jake took a step back. Created space. "Maybe you don't know me as well as you thought."
"I know exactly what you are." Victor moved closer again. "You're a nobody. A loser who got lucky. That money isn't yours. You stole it. Scammed someone. And when I find out how, I'm going to bury you."
"You're welcome to try."
Victor's eyes narrowed. "You think this is funny? You think because you have some money now that you're suddenly better than me?"
"I don't think I'm better than you, Victor." Jake's voice stayed calm. "I know I am."
Victor's face went darker. "You arrogant little..."
"You had your chance to be the big man," Jake continued. "You took my wife. Threw me out of a hotel like garbage. Made me feel worthless. And you know what? You were right. Back then, I was worthless."
"You still are."
"Maybe." Jake smiled. "But now I'm worthless with ten million dollars. What does that make you?"
Victor's hand shot out. Grabbed Jake's collar. "You listen to me, you piece of..."
"Let go of me."
"Or what?" Victor pulled Jake closer. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Mr. Steele!"
A courthouse security guard was jogging toward them. Young guy. Hand on his radio.
Victor didn't let go. "Stay out of this."
"Sir, I need you to step back from that man."
"This is a private conversation."
The guard got closer. His hand moved to his belt. Not the radio. The other side. Where the pepper spray was clipped.
"Sir, release him now or I'm calling the police."
Victor's grip tightened for a second. Then he shoved Jake backward.
Hard.
Jake stumbled. His shoulder hit a parked car. Pain shot through his arm.
The guard stepped between them. "That's assault. Do you understand that?"
"He's lying." Victor straightened his jacket. "I didn't touch him."
"I saw it, sir. I'm a witness."
"It was barely a push."
"Assault is assault." The guard pulled his radio. "Dispatch, this is Officer Chen at the courthouse. I need a unit at the visitor parking lot. We have a physical altercation."
Victor's expression shifted. "Wait. You're overreacting. I barely..."
"You need to stay right there, sir."
Victor looked at Jake. Then at the guard. Back at Jake.
"This is because of you," Victor said. "You're doing this."
Jake said nothing. Just watched.
A police cruiser pulled into the lot less than two minutes later. Two officers got out. One older, gray at the temples. The other younger, built like he spent his off hours at the gym.
The older officer approached. "What's going on, Chen?"
Officer Chen explained. Pointed at Victor. Described what he'd seen.
The older cop turned to Jake. "You want to press charges?"
Jake looked at Victor. At the fury in his eyes. The desperation underneath.
This man had taken everything from him. His wife. His dignity. Ground him into the dirt and enjoyed it.
"Yes," Jake said. "I want to press charges."
Victor's face went white. "You can't be serious."
The younger officer moved behind Victor. "Sir, I need you to turn around and put your hands behind your back."
"For what? A push? This is insane!"
"For assault. Turn around, sir."
"Do you know who I am?" Victor's voice rose. "I'm the CEO of Steele Industries. I have lawyers. I have connections. You can't just..."
"Turn around, sir. Now."
Victor didn't move. The younger officer took his arm. Victor jerked away.
"Don't touch me!"
The older officer stepped in. "Sir, you can cooperate or we can make this harder. Your choice."
Victor looked around. At the courthouse. At the security guard. At Jake.
His shoulders slumped.
He turned around.
The younger officer pulled out handcuffs. The metallic click echoed across the parking lot.
"Victor Steele, you're under arrest for assault. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..."
The Miranda rights continued. Victor stood there, hands cuffed behind his back, face purple with rage.
Other people had come out of the courthouse. Drawn by the commotion. They stood on the steps watching.
Someone had a phone out. Recording.
Victor noticed. "Put that away! Stop filming!"
The person didn't stop.
The officers led Victor toward the cruiser. He dug his heels in. Made them half-drag him.
"This is a mistake!" Victor shouted. "You're all making a huge mistake! Do you know who I am?"
They got him to the car. The older officer opened the back door.
Victor twisted around. Looked back at Jake.
"You think you've won?" His voice carried across the parking lot. "You think this is over?"
They pushed him into the back seat.
Victor immediately pressed his face against the window. Staring at Jake. His mouth moving behind the glass.
The officer slammed the door.
But Victor kept screaming. The words were muffled but still audible through the window.
"I don't know what game you're playing, but I'll destroy you! You hear me, Morrison? I'll destroy you!"
The cruiser's engine started.
Victor pounded on the window with his cuffed hands. His face was red. Twisted with rage.
"You're dead! DEAD! I'll make sure of it! You're a dead man!"
The car pulled forward. Started moving toward the parking lot exit.
Victor never stopped. Never looked away. Just kept screaming threats that became fainter as the cruiser drove away.
The crowd on the courthouse steps began dispersing. The show was over.
Jake stood alone in the parking lot. His shoulder still ached where he'd hit the car.
His phone buzzed.
He pulled it out.
A new message. Same strange font the System used.
**EXCELLENT WORK, HOST**
**VICTOR STEELE HAS BEEN PUBLICLY HUMILIATED**
**BUT HUMILIATION IS NOT DESTRUCTION**
**NEW TASK: DESTROY VICTOR STEELE'S COMPANY**
**TIMELINE: 90 DAYS**
**REWARD: $100,000,000 + ADVANCED BUSINESS INSIGHT**