ock in the hallway
h-black void, but the heavy front doors of the estate suddenly slamme
rming my hands, watching the storm through the floor-to-ceiling window
ully practiced look of sleepy co
toned and stained with what looked like coffee, and his hair was a wild mess. His eyes were bloodshot, rimmed with
ushed to him, my silk robe billowing behind m
stal decanter on the sidebar and poured himself three fingers of scotch, not both
choked out, his voice c
, squeezing gently. "What'
The offshore accounts. The bank called me at three in the morning. They said there were... unauthor
d to my mouth. "Fifty million? Victor, how
marble fireplace, shards of crystal flying everywhere. I flinched, a genuine reaction
. "But without that liquidity, we can't cover the payroll this month. We can
I asked, playing my part perfectly. "You said he was
nyone, Elena. He buys the carcasses of dead companies. If he finds
pace the room like a trapped rat. Yo
fresh cup of black coffee. I placed it in front of him
ays fix things. You're the smartest man I know. You jus
of a second. "You're right. I need to go to the o
g the heat. "I won't let them take this from
le never wavering. It was my
e, before grabbing his keys and storming out of t
out a long, slow breath. The smile vanished
glass on the floor and nudged
o the empty room. "The fi
-
were a masterclass
t out the fires I had started, I was sitting at my laptop in th
Victor's accounts, I created a shell corporation bas
t. I contacted the banks he owed money to-the ones he had leveraged
Victor's debt for a fraction of the price,
adow company that didn't exist, owned by a wife
ure text message on a bur
ng fifty million. The market is
ou I hadn't
Montague Group at 1 PM. The view is almost a
screen. Damien Vance was a dangerous
ll be
-
s obelisk in the heart of the city, a monument to m
heads, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and fear. The news of the disastrous ann
tammered. "We weren't expecting you. Mr.
e Chanel suit, a stark contrast to the red dress from the night before. I looked like a wo
e argue. She directed me to the private
eath me as I ascended. When the doors opened on the top floor,
in his pockets. He looked utterly at ease
s voice a low, pleasing rumb
Mr. Vance," I said, brushi
here, whipping my hair around my face. The city sprawle
retense. "I have a board meeting in an hour. I'm going to anno
ce him. "No. D
"You want me to stay partn
collapse completely, and Victor will walk away with whatever is left. He'll file for bankr
of deep intrigue crossing his f
debt through Nemesis Holdings. When the time is right, I will call in the loans. He wo
heavy moment. The wind whipped a
met," he said, his voice filled with an emoti
u nowhere, Mr. Vance,
against my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "It's a promise. When th
nd, my burner phone
screen. It was a text from the
She's completely unhinged
blade of satisfaction
ping away from Damien. "It s
-
s the sun was beginning to set, casting long
reaming before I even
he set me up! Where is
ng held back by two security guards, her hair a tangled mess, her face red and
, a glass of scotch in his trembling hand. He lo
d, but the guards held her back. "You did this t
sting calmly at my sides. I looked at her with
ity. "I know you're hurting. I know you're scared.
er voice cracking. "I didn't do
ring my voice so only she
. A cold, terrifying smile spread across my face. "You did that yourself
zation hit her like a physical blow. The sweet, naive sister s
ered, backing away from me,
e returning to its normal, sweet ca
exchange with a confused, uneasy e
ed at the guards. "Get th
he front door, throwing her onto the gravel driveway. T
ook in his eyes. He looked exhau
. "I'm ruined. The board meeting is tomorrow. If I can't present a
on the marble. I placed my hands on his chest
hispered. "I won't let them take
mbrace, burying his face in
hout you, Elena," he murmured. "Y
at the shattered remains of the Mi
," I wh
eeting, the final nail would
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