Chapter 9 - Confrontation at the Gate
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The rain had started to fall in heavy, cool drops as we walked down the gravel driveway toward the tall iron gates. Sam and Hector stood on either side of the entrance, their hands resting on their tactical holsters.
Parked outside the iron bars were two black Escalades. Standing in front of the lead vehicle was a tall, sharp-looking man in his fifties wearing a tailored gray wool coat. His slicked-back hair was graying at the temples, and his dark eyes were calculating.
Victor Vance.
Beside him stood two heavy-set men with military haircuts and dark suits.
"Mrs. Walker," Victor said smoothly, his voice carrying clearly over the sound of rain falling on the pine trees. "I must apologize for the intrusion. I usually prefer to conduct business in more formal settings."
"You don't have business here, Mr. Vance," I said, stopping ten feet back from the iron gate, flanked by Logan and Sam.
Victor smiled, pulling a silver cigarette case from his pocket. "Your father owes me two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Clara. He claimed your late husband guaranteed the debt."
"My husband's name was forged on your contract," I replied coldly. "And you know it."
Victor paused, lighting his cigarette with a small gold lighter. He blew a thin plume of smoke into the damp night air.
"Whether the signature is real or forged is irrelevant to me," Victor murmured smoothly. "Your father is in a county jail cell. Your brother is in holding. Your husband left behind a forty-million-dollar estate. Two hundred grand is pocket change to you."
"I won't give you a single cent of Ethan's money to pay off my father's crimes," I stated, my voice echoing firmly through the trees.
Victor’s smile faded, replaced by an icy, dangerous glare.
"You have Ethan's fire," Victor noted softly. "Ethan came to my office three weeks ago. Did he tell you that?"
I froze. "What?"
"He offered me double your father's debt if I turned over the original financial ledgers exposing your father's illegal operations," Victor revealed, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. "Ethan was planning to destroy Richard completely. But then Ethan died in that tragic crash."
May you like
Victor tapped his cigarette ash onto the wet pavement.
"Ethan's deal died with him, Clara," Victor added softly. "Pay the debt by tomorrow night, or I sell your father's corporate assets—and the secrets inside them—to the highest bidder."
