Chapter 5 - The Snake in the Boardroom
The temperature inside the bunker seemed to drop to freezing.
Harrison stood up slowly. His jaw was set like forged steel, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.
“He needs my son,” Harrison repeated, his voice barely a whisper, yet carrying enough lethal force to shake the room.
“The offshore trust was set up by Evelyn’s family twenty years ago,” Arthur explained, resting his head back against the wheelchair, exhausted from the effort. “It was designed to automatically transfer ownership of the pharmaceutical patents to her direct blood heir upon her death. Sterling fake-signed the management papers, but the Swiss banks require a secondary bio-metric confirmation before the three billion dollars can be liquidated.”
“That’s why Sterling had Evelyn poisoned,” Claire realized, her eyes wide with horrific understanding. “He thought he could take the money after she died. But when he realized the Swiss bank required Noah’s genetic sample too… he went into hiding until he could orchestrate a way to take the boy!”
Harrison walked over to the security monitors, staring at the live feeds of his estate.
He realized now why Richard Sterling had leaked the information about the shoes. Sterling hadn't just been tracking Claire—he had used Claire as bait to flush Harrison and Noah out into the open.
“Vance,” Harrison called out.
“Sir?”
“Where is the annual Whitmore Bio-Pharma shareholder gala being held tomorrow night?”
“The Grand Ballroom at the Drake Hotel, sir,” Vance answered. “The board of directors is voting on the final merger with Sterling’s former holding company at midnight.”
Harrison turned around, his eyes flashing like polished obsidian.
“Sterling won't send hitmen to the estate again,” Harrison said softly. “He knows this place is a fortress. He’s going to show up at the gala tomorrow night. He thinks he’s going to use the merger to take complete control of Whitmore Enterprises.”
Claire stepped toward Harrison, her face pale. “Harrison, it’s a trap! If Sterling is as dangerous as my father says, he’ll have half the security staff at the Drake Hotel on his payroll!”
Harrison stepped close to Claire. He reached out, his broad hand gently cupping the side of her face. His touch was warm, steady, and filled with an unshakeable strength that made Claire’s heart skip a beat.
“For five years, Claire,” Harrison murmured, his thumb lightly stroking her cheekbone, “I’ve lived in the dark, grieving a woman I couldn't save. Tomorrow night, I step back into the light. And I am going to destroy every man who touched my family.”
Claire looked up into his fierce hazel eyes. She didn't pull away from his touch. Instead, she reached up, placing her hand over his.
“Then I’m coming with you,” Claire declared firmly.
Harrison frowned slightly. “Claire, it’s too dangerous—”
“I spent five years watching my father rot in a mental ward because of Sterling,” Claire interrupted, her voice unyielding. “I carry my mother’s blood and my father’s name. You need someone beside you tomorrow night who Sterling won't suspect until it’s too late.”
Harrison looked at her—at her strength, her courage, and her fierce loyalty.
May you like
A slow, genuine smile touched the corners of his lips for the first time in five years.
“Alright, Miss Bennett,” Harrison whispered. “Tomorrow, we go to war.”
