Chapter 5 - The Call
Clara packed her modest belongings into two suitcases. She left the penthouse, walked down to the rainy street, and didn't look back. She didn't call a cab. Instead, she pulled out a secure, encrypted phone she hadn't turned on in five years.
She dialed a single number. It rang twice.
"Clara?" Arthur Vanguard’s voice boomed through the speaker, laced with immediate concern.
"Dad," Clara said, her voice steady, cold, and entirely new. "You were right."
A heavy silence fell over the line. Then, the Emperor of Wall Street spoke, and his voice was lethal. "Who is he, and how do you want him handled?"
"His name is Marcus Hayes. He works at Belmont Financial," Clara said, watching the rain wash over the New York pavement. "But don't crush him, Dad. Not yet."
"What do you want, my crown jewel?"
May you like
"I want Belmont Financial. Buy it. By Monday."
Arthur chuckled, a dark, terrifying sound. "Consider it done. Welcome back to the family, Clara."
