Chapter 8 - The Execution
"Thank you all for coming," Julian projected, his voice echoing off the marble walls. "Tonight was supposed to be an announcement. An announcement of a merger between myself and the woman standing beside me."
Genevieve beamed, looking out at the envious crowd.
"But," Julian’s voice dropped an octave, the warmth vanishing instantly. "Real estate is a business of foundations. If the foundation is rotten, you don't build on it. You demolish it."
Genevieve’s smile faltered. She looked at Julian, a flicker of genuine confusion crossing her perfect face. "Julian? What are you doing?"
Julian didn't look at her. He signaled the AV booth.
The massive projection screens behind the stage, which had been displaying the charity logo, suddenly snapped to black. Then, an audio file began to play through the state-of-the-art surround sound system.
It was the recording from Chloe’s playroom.
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“Your daddy is a very busy man... He doesn't have time for you. That's why he brought me here. Because you are a burden. If you don't start being perfectly quiet, I'll convince him to send you away...”
The collective gasp from the elite crowd sucked all the oxygen out of the room. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of Chloe’s recorded, terrified sobs.
