Chapter 7 - THE DEVIL IN A SUITThe penthouse office of Thorne Capital sat on the 60th floor of a skyscraper in Midtown.
I didn't have an appointment. I didn't care. I walked past the receptionist, ignoring her protests, and pushed open the heavy mahogany doors of Elias Thorne’s private office.
A man in his late sixties sat behind a massive desk. He had silver hair, sharp cheekbones, and dark, piercing brown eyes. Daniel’s eyes.
He looked up from his computer, completely unfazed by my intrusion. “You have exactly ten seconds to explain why my security team shouldn't throw you out of this window,” Elias said. His voice was deep, commanding, and laced with absolute authority.
I walked to his desk and slammed the leather-bound journal down onto the glass.
“Because thirty years ago, you slept with Margaret Bennett,” I said. “And I have the proof.”
Elias stopped typing. He looked at the journal. He didn't reach for it. Instead, he looked at me, a slow, predatory smile touching the corners of his mouth.
“You must be Claire,” Elias said softly. “Daniel’s wife.”
“Soon to be ex-wife.”
Elias leaned back in his leather chair, steepling his fingers. “I know who you are. I keep tabs on... assets of interest. I heard about the little scene at the birthday party. Margaret always was a theatrical bitch.”
“Daniel is your son,” I said, refusing to let him control the conversation. “Arthur knew. He was going to cut Daniel out of the will. And then, conveniently, Arthur died of a hemorrhage caused by a sudden blood-thinner overdose.”
Elias’s smile vanished. His eyes turned to black ice. “What do you want, Claire?”
“Margaret filed a fake custody order. She’s trying to take my daughter. If she succeeds, she’ll break Sophie just to hurt me. I want you to destroy Margaret.”
“And why would I do that?” Elias asked coldly. “Margaret and I have an... understanding. We stay out of each other's way.”
“Because,” I leaned over the desk, my face inches from his. “If you don't crush her, I will take this journal to the New York Times, the SEC, and the district attorney. I will expose the fact that Margaret murdered Arthur Bennett. And I will expose that Elias Thorne, the great titan of Wall Street, is the biological father of a weak, spineless boy who lets women slap his wife and chain his child.”
Elias stared at me. For a long, terrifying moment, the room was completely silent.
May you like
Then, Elias Thorne laughed. It was a rich, dark sound.
“Arthur was a fool,” Elias said, standing up. “But you... you have teeth. I like you, Claire.” He buttoned his suit jacket. “Where is the custody hearing?”
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