Chapter 4 - The Sound of Truth
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Beatrice pushed past her son, her face contorted in anger despite her sudden confusion.
“Who are these people? Ethan, call the police! These people broke into our residence!”
“Beatrice, shut up!” Ethan hissed through his teeth, sweat breaking out across his forehead. “That is Arthur Sterling! He’s the majority shareholder of Vance Enterprises! He owns my entire company!”
Arthur slowly raised his hand, cutting off Ethan’s panicked rambling.
“You work for my subsidiary, Ethan,” Arthur said coolly. “Or rather, you did work for them until twenty minutes ago when the board voted unanimously to terminate your employment for cause.”
Ethan gasped, grabbing the edge of the dining table to steady himself.
“Terminated?! On what grounds? Mr. Sterling, there has been a mistake! I’m your top regional director!”
I stepped out from the butler’s pantry, wearing a pristine tailored white suit that covered my collarbone, though the dark bruise on my cheek remained clearly visible beneath the soft morning light.
Ethan stared at me, his eyes wide with horror as the pieces finally began connecting in his mind.
“Victoria...” Ethan whispered. “What is this?”
“You asked for a proper breakfast, Ethan,” I said smoothly, walking over to stand beside my grandfather. “I decided to invite my family to join us.”
Sarah Vance opened a sleek laptop on the table and pressed a single button.
The room filled with the stark, terrifying audio from the previous night:
“Look at her... still staring at you as though she’s the victim.”
“When I’m talking to you, you answer!”
The heavy, sickening CRACK of a hand striking flesh echoed through the high-ceilinged room.
“It was only coffee, Ethan.”
“It wasn’t about coffee! It was about respect!”
Beatrice’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Ethan looked like he was about to vomit right onto the marble floor.
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“That’s... that’s an illegal recording!” Ethan shrieked. “It’s inadmissible!”
“In New York, recording consent requires only one party,” Sarah Vance replied crisply. “And my client gave full consent.”
