Chapter 18 - The Shadow Partner
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Back in New York, the Sterling Enterprises executive suite had transformed into a war room. The walls were covered with financial charts, printed offshore bank records, and photographs of Silas Thorne.
Maya paced back and forth across the plush carpet, her mind working a mile a minute. Silas Thorne was a legendary figure in Wall Street mythology—a ruthless, invisible force who destroyed companies from the inside out. Taking him down would require a flawless trap.
"We have the financial records proving his account received the embezzled funds," Leo said, pointing to a red string connecting Victoria's ledger to Silas's picture. "But Hoffman is a corrupt banker trying to save his own skin. A good defense attorney will tear his testimony to shreds, claiming Silas knew nothing about where the money came from."
"Exactly," Maya agreed, stopping in front of the board. "Silas is smart. He never communicated with Victoria using corporate email or traceable phone lines. He insulated himself perfectly. We need to goad him into admitting his involvement on tape."
"And how do you plan to do that? Call him up and ask nicely?"
"No," Maya smiled, walking over to her desk and pulling out a heavy, embossed gold invitation card. "We invite him to a party."
Leo looked at the card. "The annual Sterling Charity Gala? It's scheduled for this Saturday. You're going through with it?"
"It’s the perfect cover," Maya explained. "The entire city’s elite will be there. The press will be outside. It’s exactly the kind of high-profile event Silas Thorne despises, which means if he shows up, it’s because he thinks he has the upper hand."
"Why would he show up?"
"Because," Maya said, pulling a sleek black fountain pen from her drawer. "I am going to send him a very special, handwritten invitation. I am going to tell him that I found his name in Victoria’s ledger, and I want to negotiate a... private settlement."
Leo’s jaw dropped. "Are you insane? You’re going to extort a billionaire criminal?"
May you like
"I am going to make him believe I am as corrupt as he is," Maya corrected. "I will make him think I want a piece of the pie to keep my mouth shut. His ego won't let him refuse a chance to manipulate Richard Sterling’s daughter in person."
Maya pressed the pen to the heavy gold card, drafting the bait that would lure the ultimate predator out of the shadows.
