Chapter 6 - The Ghost in the Ledgers
Claire locked herself in the executive corner office that had once belonged to Arthur Vance. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered an expansive view of the city skyline, but she felt no sense of victory. Across the large mahogany desk sat Nathan Frost, his reading glasses perched on his nose, surrounded by mountains of financial audits.
""It’s worse than we anticipated,"" Frost said, circling several figures with a red pen. ""Julian didn't just borrow thirty million dollars to float his tech investments. He borrowed it from the Valenti family through a shell corporation registered in Panama.""
Claire rubbed her temples. ""The Valentis? The loan sharks behind the harbor logistics network?""
""The very same,"" Frost replied. ""Arthur always refused to do business with them, but Julian thought he could outsmart them. The loan carries an extortionate interest rate. If thirty million isn't wired into their offshore escrow by 5:00 PM next Friday, they hold the legal right to foreclose on Vance Tower itself.""
The double stroller sat near the desk. Claire walked over, watching her two sons sleep peacefully. Julian had left them a legacy of debt and danger. If the tower fell, Arthur Vance’s legacy fell with it, leaving her children with nothing but target markers on their backs.
Her phone rang. It was an unlisted landline.
Claire answered and put it on speaker. ""Claire Vance.""
""Mrs. Vance,"" a deep, gravelly voice answered from the other end. ""Allow me to congratulate you on your boardroom victory. It takes guts to cut a dead limb off a family tree.""
Claire exchanged a glance with Frost. ""Who is this?""
""Dominic Valenti,"" the voice replied smoothly. ""Your husband made promises he couldn't keep. He swore Vance Enterprises would grant our shipping containers priority customs clearance at the southern terminals. Now that you've ousted him, I assume our arrangement still stands?""
""I don't facilitate contraband, Mr. Valenti,"" Claire said firmly. ""My father and grandfather ran legitimate shipping routes, and so will I.""
A soft, menacing chuckle resonated through the speaker. ""Integrity is an expensive luxury, Mrs. Vance. Especially for a single mother with two newborn boys. You have six days to produce thirty million dollars in cash, or my associates will collect the collateral in person. And believe me, we don't just take real estate.""
The line went dead with a harsh dial tone.
Claire gripped the phone, her knuckles turning white. Frost looked at her with genuine concern. ""Claire, we don't have thirty million in liquid capital. The trust funds are locked in long-term municipal bonds that take thirty days to liquidate. What are you going to do?""
Claire looked down at the twin boys. A quiet resolve replaced the panic in her eyes.
""Julian didn't act alone,"" Claire said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. ""He doesn't have the brains to hide thirty million dollars without help. Someone inside this company helped him launder that money into private holdings. Find Marcus Vance. Bring him to me now.""
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Just then, Claire’s personal assistant rushed into the office, breathless and pale.
""Mrs. Vance! Marcus Vance just cleared his desk and left through the basement garage. His phone is disconnected!""
