Chapter 6 - Beneath the Floorboards
Julian’s eyes narrowed into slits. "What have you done?"
"You think I relied solely on an old hospital document?" Claire laughed, smoothing down her designer gown as she retreated toward the arched exit of the dining room. "I know how ruthless your family is. I knew the moment Eleanor suspected me, she would try to invalidate our prenuptial agreement. So I took insurance."
Eleanor’s hand flew to her throat. "The bearer bonds... the treasury certificates from Julian’s grandfather."
"Not just paper, Eleanor," Claire purred, leaning against the doorframe. "The Sterling foundation reserves. Three hundred million dollars in bearer bonds, stored in the climate-controlled safe beneath the wine cellar. Along with the original journals detailing your so-called 'noble donor' arrangement. How do you think the Sterling shareholders will react when they discover their CEO is an imposter chosen by a desperate socialite?"
"You couldn't crack the biometric locks," Julian said, his voice dropping into a dangerous baritone. He set Lily down gently on the chair next to Eleanor. "Stay with Grandma, sweetheart."
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"I didn't have to crack them," Claire smirked, lifting her hand to display her delicate wrist. Wrapped around it was a slim, silicone band with a dull sheen—a duplicate fingerprint mould. "You sleep heavily after two fingers of scotch, darling. And while you were sleeping off your corporate exhaustion last night, my courier was already loading the crates."
Julian lunged forward, but Claire threw the heavy dining room doors wide open. Standing in the foyer, silhouetted against the storm outside, were two private security contractors in dark suits, their hands resting ominously on holstered sidearms.
