Chapter 3 - The Inside Man
The man smiled smoothly and offered his hand.
I refused to shake it.
"My name is Arthur Vance, and I am here to help you," he lied effortlessly.
I sat down across the metal table and glared at him.
"You are the man who was in my bedroom with Vanessa," I said firmly.
Arthur did not even flinch at the direct accusation.
He opened his expensive leather briefcase and pulled out a stack of documents.
"I am actually a senior partner at your corporate law firm," he explained.
"Vanessa hired me to draft a plea deal that keeps you out of prison."
He slid a sleek silver pen across the table.
"You just need to sign over your tech company and grant Vanessa full custody of Noah."
I slammed my fists onto the table in pure rage.
"I will never let that psychopath near my son again," I growled.
Arthur sighed, acting as if I were making a foolish mistake.
"If you do not sign, you will spend the rest of your life behind bars," he warned.
"And Vanessa will automatically get custody anyway because you are legally engaged."
I realized this was a massive, carefully orchestrated corporate takeover.
I stood up and yelled for the prison guard.
"I am firing this man, and I demand my one phone call," I stated loudly.
Arthur packed up his briefcase with a confident, arrogant smirk.
"You have no one left to call, Daniel," Arthur mocked before walking out.
The guard led me to a payphone mounted on the concrete wall.
I dialed a number I had not called in four long years.
It was the number of my ruthless, wealthy ex-wife, Sarah.
She was Noah's biological mother, and she absolutely hated my guts.
The line rang three times before she answered.
"Daniel, you have a lot of nerve calling me," Sarah said coldly.
"Sarah, I need your help, Noah is in extreme danger," I pleaded.
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
May you like
"I already know," she whispered softly.
"I am standing right outside the precinct with a bail bondsman."
