Chapter 19 - THE FINAL ULTIMATUM|
Elena walked over to the glass window, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
"What way out?" she whispered into the receiver, barely moving her lips.
"In Adrien's private study at the estate, inside his primary safe, sits an encrypted titanium drive labeled 'AETHELRED'," Agent Miller instructed. "It contains the master digital keys to his global banking network. Bring us that drive tonight. In exchange, we give you and your brother total immunity, full witness protection, and a clean slate anywhere in the world."
Elena closed her eyes.
A clean slate. No dark guards. No bulletproof glass. No fear of hit squads crashing through the windows at midnight. A normal, quiet life.
"If you stay with him, Elena," Agent Miller added grimly, "you will go down with his ship. You have until midnight."
The line went dead.
Elena slowly lowered the phone, turning back to face Adrien.
He stood by her drafting table, his silver eyes fixed on her face with quiet, intense observation. He hadn't heard the agent's voice, but he knew her posture—he knew the look of a person standing on the edge of a cliff.
"Who was that?" Adrien asked, his voice calm, dangerous, and smooth.
"It was the contractor," Elena lied smoothly, forcing her voice to remain steady. "About the library foundation."
Adrien looked at her for a long, heavy moment. He walked over, picked up the black velvet ring box from the table, and placed it gently into her palm.
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"I have a meeting at the docks tonight," Adrien said, his thumb brushing her cheek one last time. "I will be back at midnight. Have your answer ready for me, Elena."
He turned and walked out of her office, his security guards falling into step behind him.
