Chapter 2 - The Velvet Viper
"Security!" Julian Hawthorne stepped in front of his father, his handsome face twisting into an ugly sneer. "Get this woman out of here. She’s trespassing."
Four massive guards in black suits lunged forward, but Eleanor simply raised a single, manicured hand.
"I wouldn't do that, Julian," Eleanor said, her voice dropping to a lethal whisper. She pulled a sleek, encrypted titanium flash drive from her silver clutch. "Unless you want every major news network to receive the unredacted flight logs of Hawthorne Global’s private jets. The ones flying into non-extradition countries with billions in embezzled pension funds."
The guards froze. Julian went pale.
Arthur placed a heavy hand on his son’s shoulder, stepping forward. He recovered his composure, pasting on a terrifyingly calm smile. "Eleanor. My dear, sweet Eleanor. We all thought you died in the Alps with your mother."
"I survived the avalanche you paid for, Arthur," Eleanor said smoothly, closing the distance between them. The socialites parted like the Red Sea, eager to distance themselves from the blast radius. "It took me fifteen years to crawl out of the dark, but I’m finally here."
"You have no proof of these insane allegations," Arthur hissed, stepping closer so only she could hear. "You are a ghost. And ghosts don't hold court in my city."
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"This isn't your city," Eleanor replied, her eyes burning with vengeance. "My mother built this empire. You were just her accountant. And by midnight, I am taking it all back."
She turned her back on the most powerful man in the state and walked toward the VIP elevators. "I’ll be in the penthouse boardroom, Arthur. You have ten minutes to meet me and sign the surrender documents. Or I press send."
