Chapter 18 - The Ultimatum
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The rain had started to fall, freezing and miserable, as Nathan’s SUV skidded to a halt outside the dark, abandoned community center.
He threw the door open, sprinting toward the covered bus stop bench illuminated by a single, flickering streetlamp.
Huddled in the corner of the bench, shivering violently inside her oversized blue coat, was June. She had her knees pulled to her chest, her head buried in her arms.
"June!" Nathan yelled, his voice cracking with absolute relief.
She looked up, her face pale and streaked with tears. When she saw him, she shrank back against the glass of the bus shelter.
"I left," June cried, her teeth chattering. "You don't have to pay him the money. I ran away, so the bad man can't take your money."
Nathan didn't care about the rain or his expensive suit. He dropped to his knees on the wet concrete right in front of her, pulling her fiercely into his arms, crushing her against his chest.
"June, listen to me," Nathan choked out, burying his face in her wet hair. "I would pay five billion dollars for you. I would burn my company to the ground for you. You are never a burden. You are my daughter."
June wrapped her arms around his neck, finally breaking down into deep, racking sobs, letting go of the terrifying responsibility she had placed on her own small shoulders.
"He's a bad man," June wept.
"I know," Nathan whispered fiercely, carrying her to the warm SUV. "And I am going to make sure he never bothers us again."
The next day at noon, Ray Miller swaggered into Nathan’s corporate boardroom, expecting a check for five million dollars.
Instead, he found Nathan sitting at the head of the table, flanked by David and two men in dark suits holding badges. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Ray froze, the smug smile sliding off his face.
Nathan stood up, pushing a single piece of paper across the glass table. It was a relinquishment of parental rights.
"You have two choices, Ray," Nathan said, his voice cold and merciless. "You sign that paper right now, waiving all claims to June forever, and you walk out of this building with absolutely nothing."
Ray swallowed hard, looking at the FBI agents. "And the second choice?"
"You don't sign," Nathan smiled grimly. "And these agents arrest you for violating your federal probation by attempting to extort me for five million dollars. I have the audio recording. You will go back to federal prison for the next twenty years."
Ray looked at the paper, then at the agents. His hands were shaking. He pulled a pen from his pocket, signed the document, and threw it on the table.
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"You're crazy, Cole," Ray spat, backing toward the door.
"I'm a father," Nathan corrected him. "Get out of my city."
