Chapter 13 - A Protection Offered
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An hour later, the grand ballroom was empty. The guests had left, the police had transported Victor Sinclair and Arthur Vance to the federal holding facility, and the Meridian had returned to its quiet elegance.
Dela sat on a comfortable velvet sofa in Gus’s private executive suite on the top floor. She had removed her jacket, sipping a warm cup of herbal tea Teddy had personally brought up for her.
Gus walked in, carrying a glass of sparkling water. He set it on the side table and sat down across from her.
"How are you feeling?" Gus asked softly.
"Exhausted," Dela admitted, giving a faint smile. "But my mind feels clear for the first time in two years."
"You were incredible downstairs," Gus said, his dark eyes fixed on her. "I've seen top trial lawyers work rooms for twenty years, but I've never seen anyone dismantle an opponent with such surgical precision."
Dela looked down at her hands resting over her belly. "I had to do it. For Elias. And for my child."
Gus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Elias was a good man, Dela. Six months before he died, he came to me privately. He told me he was uncovering something dangerous inside Sinclair Maritime, and he asked me if I would keep an eye on you if anything ever happened to him."
Dela looked up, stunned. "Elias spoke to you?"
"Yes," Gus revealed quietly. "I tried to offer him security back then, but he insisted he could handle it through official channels. He misjudged how ruthless Victor Sinclair was. When he died, I made sure you were protected, even when you didn't know it."
"The apartment on the West Side..." Dela realized, her eyes widening. "The low rent. The quiet neighborhood."
"I own the building," Gus admitted smoothly. "And Teddy Brightwater isn't just a chef. She’s a former military nurse I hired nineteen years ago to manage my private staff. She’s been watching over you at the Meridian every single day."
Dela stared at him, overwhelmed by the realization that while she thought she was alone fighting in the dark, a silent shield had been standing around her all along.
"Why do all this for me, Gus?" Dela asked softly.
May you like
Gus stood up, walking toward her, his gaze holding hers with an intense, unwavering warmth.
"Because a woman with your heart, your courage, and your mind deserves more than fighting alone in the shadows," Gus said gently. "And because I intend to make sure no one ever makes you feel powerless again."
