Chapter 11 - The Director's Trap
Ten minutes later, a sleek black Bentley glided up the winding gravel driveway of the Ashford estate.
Arthur Vance stepped out, impeccably dressed in a tailored charcoal suit and cashmere overcoat, carrying a leather briefcase. His silver hair was perfectly coiffed, his face arranged into an expression of solemn, tragic sympathy.
Two federal agents, disguised in private estate security uniforms, opened the heavy front doors for him without a word. Vance stepped into the foyer, his eyes skimming over the soot stains on the marble and the shattered glass swept into corners. He suppressed a faint smirk.
""Tragic,"" Vance murmured aloud. ""An absolute catastrophe for two great families.""
He was directed into the private drawing room, where the heavy velvet drapes were drawn, casting the room in deep, amber shadows from the crackling fireplace.
Sitting on the leather sofa, clutching a glass of amber whiskey, was Victoria Sterling. Her dress was crumpled, her face streaked with deliberate smudges of mascara. She did not look up as Vance entered.
""Victoria, my dear child,"" Vance said smoothly, walking across the oriental rug with open arms. ""I came as soon as the rumors hit Wall Street. What has that madman Julian done to you?""
Victoria took a slow sip of her drink, her hands trembling with theatrical perfection. ""He had a child, Arthur. A peasant girl from South America. He ruined me in front of high society. My father will never survive the humiliation.""
Vance sat in the armchair opposite her, leaning forward with conspiratorial warmth. ""Your father won't have to suffer, Victoria. Nor will you. The board has called an emergency session. Julian will be stripped of the CEO title for gross moral misconduct and corporate endangerment before noon.""
""And what happens to the Sterling shares?"" Victoria whispered, staring into the fire. ""Marcus is gone, Arthur. He disappeared into the night like a coward.""
""Marcus was an amateur,"" Vance dismissed with a subtle wave of his signet ring. ""He was greedy, but he lacked the foresight to finish what he started. Forget Marcus. I have already drafted a restructuring package. Sterling International will be absorbed into my private holding firm, Vance Maritime. You will retain forty percent equity, Victoria. You will be wealthier than your father ever dreamed.""
Victoria slowly turned her head, her gaze piercing through the shadows. ""And what about Julian? And the girl? What happens to them?""
Vance’s smile vanished, replaced by the cold, dead eyes of an apex predator.
""Dead men don't file shareholder lawsuits, Victoria. Julian’s car will suffer an unfortunate hydraulic brake failure on the mountain road to the federal courthouse. A tragic end to a disgraced heir.""
The silence in the drawing room grew heavy and cold.
""How convenient,"" Victoria said softly. ""Just like Julian's father's plane in the Andes?""
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Vance froze. His eyes narrowed slightly. ""What did you say?""
""I asked,"" Victoria said, setting her whiskey glass down with a loud, deliberate clink on the mahogany table, ""if you tampered with his father's plane the same way you planned to tamper with his car.""
