Chapter 25 - Marcus Vance
Marcus Vance was a man of impeccable tailoring, silver hair, and terrifying influence. He operated under the arrogant assumption that his legacy and his connections made him completely untouchable. He found out I was auditing Vanguard Logistics within twenty-four hours of my meeting with Julian.
He didn't send an intimidating email or schedule a formal meeting. He simply walked directly into my office late on a Friday afternoon, clicking the heavy lock shut behind him.
"I hear the newly formed Ethics Division is poking around my global logistics contracts," Vance said, a patronizing, razor-thin smile playing on his lips as he casually inspected a sculpture on my shelf.
"It’s just a standard quarterly review, Marcus," I replied, my voice steady. I did not stop typing, refusing to give him the satisfaction of my full attention.
He walked slowly to my desk, placing both hands flat on the glass and leaning over, deliberately invading my personal space. The scent of his expensive cologne was suffocating.
"Some rocks shouldn't be turned over, sweetheart," Vance whispered, the threat barely concealed beneath the corporate veneer. "You might find very venomous snakes underneath. Snakes that could ruin a pretty young thing's career permanently."
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I stopped typing. I looked up, meeting his cold, predatory eyes, feeling absolutely no fear. I had survived a monster who beat me in the dead of night; a man in a Tom Ford suit did not intimidate me.
"I like snakes, Marcus," I said, a slow, icy smile spreading across my face. "I find them very predictable. And they're incredibly easy to trap if you know where they sleep."
