Chapter 1 - The Unexpected Guests
The heavy oak grandfather clock ticked loudly in the corner of the dining room.
Garrick casually took another sip of his expensive red wine.
He clearly believed that my silence was a sign of absolute submission.
Miriam dabbed her mouth with a linen napkin and smiled smugly at her son.
She thought she had finally broken my daughter's spirit.
They had absolutely no idea that their entire world was about to collapse.
I reached across the table and gently placed my hand over Sienna's trembling fingers.
Her skin was ice cold and covered in a nervous sweat.
I squeezed her hand softly to silently promise her that this nightmare was ending tonight.
Suddenly, the heavy brass doorbell echoed through the massive estate.
Garrick frowned and glanced at his expensive gold wristwatch.
He muttered under his breath about uninvited guests ruining his celebratory dinner.
He wiped his hands, stood up slowly, and walked toward the grand foyer.
Miriam rolled her eyes and complained about the incompetence of their security staff.
I simply sat there in absolute silence while I waited for the inevitable explosion.
The sound of the heavy front door creaking open drifted into the dining room.
Garrick's arrogant voice echoed down the hallway as he demanded to know who was bothering him.
His voice abruptly stopped.
A thick, suffocating silence immediately followed.
I heard the sound of several heavy footsteps stepping onto the marble floor of the foyer.
Garrick stumbled backward into the dining room, his face completely drained of all color.
He looked as if he had just seen a ghost.
Behind him walked Raymond Fletcher, the Police Commissioner of the city.
Four elite police officers in tactical gear flanked the Commissioner.
Following closely behind them were five wealthy men and women wearing tailored business suits.
They were the executive board members of Ashford Industries.
Garrick desperately tried to force a smile onto his terrified face.
He stammered and asked the board members what they were doing at his house on a Sunday night.
The Chairman of the Board ignored Garrick entirely and looked directly at me.
He bowed his head slightly and asked if I was ready to begin the emergency shareholder meeting.
Garrick stared at me in pure shock as the Commissioner stepped forward and placed his hand on his service weapon.
May you like
The Commissioner announced that nobody was leaving this house until a full criminal investigation was completed.
Miriam suddenly screamed as one of the police officers pulled a pair of steel handcuffs from his tactical belt.
