Chapter 23 - The Boundary
Marcus walked over to the bar, adjusting his silk tie.
"I have a business proposition," he said, dropping a thick manila envelope onto the counter. "A massive real estate buyout down the coast. We need your aggressive tactics. The kind of ruthless maneuvering you used to be famous for. It’s a ten-million-dollar payout."
I looked at the envelope. Ten years ago, I would have torn into it like a starving dog. I would have sacrificed my sleep, my morals, and my peace of mind for the thrill of the conquest.
Now, the envelope just looked like a piece of trash sitting on my clean counter.
"I'm not that man anymore, Marcus," I said, sliding the envelope back toward him without opening it. "And my peace is worth a hell of a lot more than ten million dollars."
Marcus stared at me, his jaw clenching. He tried to find a crack in my armor, a hint of hesitation. He found nothing.
"You're making a mistake," he warned.
May you like
"No," I replied, pointing toward the door. "For the first time in my life, I know exactly what I'm doing. Have a safe drive back to the city, Marcus."
When the door closed behind him, Elena walked out of the kitchen. She had heard everything. She didn't say a word; she just wrapped her arms tightly around my waist. The ghost had come to haunt me, but he had found no darkness left to hide in.
