Chapter 22 - Shadows and Shell Companies | The glowing blue numbers on my laptop screen blurred as the clock on my office wall chimed 3:00 AM. Sleep was a luxury I could no longer afford. Every shadow outside my floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to stretch, hiding potential threats.
"I found a breadcrumb," Mara said, slamming a thick folder onto my desk. Her eyes were rimmed with red, but her energy was electric.
"Talk to me," I ordered, spinning my chair around.
"The wire transfer didn't just route through Zurich. It briefly hit a private mercenary registry registered in Malta," she explained, pointing to a highlighted line of code. "The agency goes by the name Aegis Protocol."
I ran my finger down the page. "Aegis Protocol isn't a PR firm, Mara. They don't do smear campaigns."
"No," Mara said, her voice heavy. "They specialize in corporate sabotage, asset destruction, and personal neutralization. They’re high-end hitmen with law degrees."
A cold drip of sweat ran down my spine, but I forced my expression to remain unreadable. "So Richard isn't trying to ruin my reputation. He’s trying to erase me."
"The transfer was two million dollars as a retainer," Mara added. "With an additional five million due upon completion of the 'assignment'."
"Five million for my life," I whispered, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "The old man is being stingy. My company is worth billions now."
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"Claire, this isn't a game!" Mara snapped, leaning over the desk. "You need to go to a safe house. Tonight."
"No," I replied firmly, standing up and walking over to the window looking over the sleeping city. "If I go into hiding, he wins the psychological war. He wants me paranoid. He wants me reactive. I'm going to give him a target he can't miss, and then I'm going to trap him."
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