Chapter 3 - Smoke On The Water
The dark spiral of smoke twisted aggressively into the Mediterranean sky, instantly shattering the serene tranquility of the French Riviera. Panic swept through the marina. Sirens wailed in the distance, their shrill cries echoing off the cliffside villas.
""Julian!"" Chloe shrieked, pointing a manicured finger toward the water. ""Isn't that... isn't that the Aurelia?""
Julian couldn't breathe. The Aurelia was a two-hundred-foot superyacht, chartered under his personal credit line to impress Chloe and her circle of European socialites. It wasn't just a boat; on board were his private safe, his secondary passport, and the encrypted flash drive containing the private ledger of Elena’s family enterprise—his only leverage in the impending divorce.
""No, no, no..."" Julian muttered, stumbling past the chairs and tossing a crumpled wad of Euros onto the table. He took off running toward the harbor stairs, leaving Chloe screaming his name behind him.
His designer loafers slipped on the sun-baked stone as he hurtled down the narrow pedestrian streets of the coastal town. By the time he reached the wooden boardwalk of the marina, a perimeter of French gendarmes had already cordoned off the dock.
Flames devoured the aft deck of the Aurelia. Fireboats were spraying arcs of foamy seawater over the vessel, but the blaze was furious, fueled by an unnatural accelerant.
""Monsieur, step back! It is dangerous!"" a port officer shouted, holding up an arm to block Julian.
""My belongings are in that cabin!"" Julian roared, trying to shove past the officer. ""You have to let me through! There are irreplaceable documents!""
""Nobody is boarding that vessel,"" a cool, composed voice announced from behind him.
Julian spun around. Standing beside a gleaming black Maybach was Elena, shielded by an umbrella held by her driver. She had removed her sunhat, revealing a tight, severe chignon. She looked upon the burning multi-million-dollar boat with all the emotion of a tourist watching the sunset.
""Elena! You did this!"" Julian lunged toward her, but her bodyguard immediately stepped into his path, his hand resting menacingly inside his jacket.
""Did what, Julian?"" Elena asked softly, tilting her head. ""Reported an illegal fuel leak on an uninsured vessel registered under fraudulent shell corporations? I merely did my civic duty.""
May you like
Julian’s stomach plummeted. ""Uninsured?""
Elena took a step closer, leaning into his ear. ""The paperwork on your yacht was cancelled three hours ago. The damages are entirely yours. But that isn't the worst of it."" She held up a small, familiar silver USB drive between two slender fingers. ""Look what floated ashore before the spark was struck.""
