Chapter 6 - The Velvet Trap
The trap was set. Victor contacted Julian Thorne, agreeing to a private meeting at the historic Oakridge Manor Hotel to sign over the shipping contracts.
The night of the meeting was dark and stormy, the snow turning into a blinding blizzard. Inside the opulent, dimly lit private dining room of the hotel, Julian Thorne sat waiting, sipping champagne.
Victor and Clara walked in together. Clara wore a stunning, emerald-green dress, her posture regal and unyielding. She looked every bit the queen of the Hale empire.
"Ah, the united front," Julian mocked, raising his glass. "How touching. Have you brought my contracts, Victor?"
Victor slid a thick leather folder across the table. "Everything is there. The exclusive rights to the northern deep-water ports. It’s what you wanted. Now, leave my family alone."
Julian opened the folder, scanning the documents with a greedy grin. "Magnificent. You really do love them, don't you? To sacrifice your father's legacy for a baker and a bunch of orphans."
"They aren't orphans," Clara said, her voice dripping with ice. "They are our children. And you should be careful about what you sign, Mr. Thorne. Sometimes, a gift is actually a Trojan horse."
Julian’s smile faltered. "What are you talking about?"
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"Those contracts," Victor said smoothly, leaning back in his chair. "They aren't for the active ports. They are for the decommissioned sector 4 ports—the ones currently under active federal investigation for environmental hazards. By signing that, you have just legally tied your company, Thorne & Co., to a site of interest for federal investigators. In fact, they’ve been wiretapping our communications for the last forty-eight hours."
On cue, the doors to the private dining room burst open. Two federal agents stepped inside, badges shining in the dim light.
