Chapter 5 - Evelyn Cross Never Forgives
The smell of antiseptic and woodsmoke hung heavy in the library as the grandfather clock in the corner struck 3:00 AM.
Julian sat by the fire, a clean black sweater covering the thick white bandage taped across his right shoulder. He held a cold glass of scotch in his left hand, his face bathed in the dancing orange flames. Beside him, Claire sat with her feet curled beneath her on the sofa, her hand resting safely inside his uninjured grip.
Across the room, Marcus placed a ruggedized laptop on the heavy oak dining table.
""We traced the call, boss,"" Marcus said, turning the screen toward Julian. ""The burner phone that called Ms. Claire at the maternity clinic was pinged off a cellular tower near the Ashbourne Hotel downtown. Specifically, the penthouse residential suites.""
""Evelyn’s private residence,"" Julian said, his eyes narrowing into cold slits.
""There's more,"" Marcus added, tapping the keys. ""The medical file Ms. Claire received—the forged genetic report claiming you weren't the father—it didn't come from a rogue lab tech. It was authorized under the digital signature of Dr. Victor Vance.""
Claire looked up, confused. ""Vance? Isn't that—""
""Arthur Vance's younger brother,"" Julian said, his voice tightening like a coiled spring. ""Arthur Vance is the majority shareholder of Vance Maritime. For six months, I've been blocking their attempt to buy out the southern commercial docks. If Vance gets control of those piers, they open up the entire coastline to unregulated, illicit cargo shipping.""
Claire felt a cold chill run down her spine. ""So this wasn't just about Evelyn being jealous?""
Julian let out a bitter, humorless laugh. ""Evelyn doesn't care about love, Claire. She never did. Four years ago, when our engagement ended, it wasn't because of a lovers' quarrel. I found out she had been funneling confidential balance sheets from my father's holdings directly to Arthur Vance. She was their mole inside Hale Enterprises. The day I broke the engagement, I stripped her family of their board seats and seized their harbor leases.""
""She lost forty million dollars in a single afternoon,"" Marcus added grimly. ""And her social standing in this city was completely incinerated. She’s been living off Vance’s payroll ever since.""
""They used my pregnancy,"" Claire said, tears of boiling fury pricking her eyes as she looked down at her ring. ""They used our baby to set you up.""
""They knew I would tear this city apart if anyone threatened you,"" Julian explained, turning to look at her with an intensity that took her breath away. ""Their plan was brilliant in its cruelty. If you succeeded in convincing me the child wasn't mine, I would have walked away broken, distracted, and vulnerable. The Vance syndicate would have executed their hostile takeover of the southern piers at the board meeting tomorrow morning while I was drowning in grief.""
""And if you didn't believe me?"" Claire whispered.
""Then the two shooters downstairs were instructed to put a bullet through my head in the hospital parking lot,"" Julian said simply. ""Either way, I was removed from the board before 9:00 AM. And Arthur Vance takes the harbor.""
The room fell dead silent except for the crackle of the burning oak logs.
Claire stood up, the blanket falling away from her shoulders. For seven months, she had been the gentle, quiet woman who baked cookies on Sundays and worried about paint swatches for the nursery. But looking at the bandage on Julian's shoulder, remembering the sickening sound of the bullet striking the clinic door, something ancient and fierce awakened inside her.
""What are we going to do?"" she asked.
Julian looked up at her, a spark of dark pride igniting in his eyes. He set his scotch glass down on the stone hearth and stood up to his full, towering height.
""We don't run, Claire,"" Julian said softly. ""The Hale family hasn't run from a fight in eighty years. Marcus, get Thomas on the secure line. Tell him to mobilize the dockworkers' union stewards at the southern terminal. Every crane, every forklift, every gate is to be locked down by 5:00 AM.""
""Yes, sir,"" Marcus said, pulling his phone out and stepping toward the hallway.
""And what about Evelyn?"" Claire asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He dialed a number from memory and put it on speaker.
The line rang three times before a smooth, cultivated female voice answered, dripping with ice and honey.
""I wondered how long it would take you to call, Julian,"" Evelyn Cross said. ""I assume you're currently picking glass out of your expensive suits?""
""Evelyn,"" Julian said, his voice calm, polite, and completely devoid of emotion. ""I'm calling to give you one piece of advice.""
May you like
A pause on the line. ""Oh? And what would that be?""
""Pack your bags,"" Julian said softly. ""Because by sunrise, Arthur Vance won't have a company left to pay your rent. And there isn't a hole deep enough in this country to hide you from me.""
