Chapter 3 - The Desperate Ploy
The terrifying threat from my sister hung in the air like a heavy toxic cloud.
Clara was entirely capable of destroying my life just to keep the family's dirty secrets buried.
I looked at Silas, who was shaking his head in absolute disbelief at our sister's profound cruelty.
I knew I could not bring Josephine back to my apartment while that horrible threat loomed over us.
I drove my daughter to the home of my closest college friend, a former marine who agreed to guard her with his life.
The next morning, I put on my best tailored suit and drove back to the family corporate headquarters.
I walked into the massive glass lobby, pretending that I had completely surrendered to their wicked demands.
Clara smirked triumphantly from behind her pristine mahogany desk as I passed her office.
My father called me into his luxurious boardroom and patted me aggressively on the shoulder.
He praised me for finally acting like a responsible adult and knowing my proper place in the family hierarchy.
I forced a polite smile while secretly activating the hidden digital voice recorder inside my suit pocket.
I apologized for my outburst and asked to review the latest quarterly financial ledgers to catch up on my work.
My father agreed, handing me the master access keycard to the basement server room.
I rushed downstairs and quickly began copying the original offshore routing numbers onto a portable hard drive.
I was only halfway through the massive download when the heavy steel door of the server room suddenly slammed shut.
The electronic deadbolt clicked loudly, trapping me completely inside the windowless concrete bunker.
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My father's voice echoed through the overhead security intercom system.
He laughed darkly and announced that he knew I had met with Silas last night, and now neither of us would ever leave this building.
