Chapter 7 - The Dinner Table Trap
The grand dining room of the Cross estate was illuminated by a massive crystal chandelier that cast a warm, flickering light over a twenty-foot mahogany table set with sterling silver and fine porcelain.
Damian sat at the head of the table. I sat at his right hand.
Victor Vance sat directly across from me, his face pale and blotchy, while his nephew Julian sat beside him, staring down at his empty plate as if it contained poison.
Two security guards stood silently behind Victor’s chair, their arms folded, their presence an undeniable reminder of where power truly resided in this room.
“I must admit, Cross,” Victor began, trying desperately to project a composure he clearly did not feel. “When your driver brought us here, I assumed we were discussing Mark’s outstanding commercial paper with your syndicate. I did not expect to find my former niece-in-law sitting at your right hand.”
Damian didn't touch his food. He picked up a silver butter knife, resting its tip lightly against the white tablecloth.
“Nora is not your niece-in-law anymore, Victor,” Damian said smoothly. “She is a guest under my protection.”
Victor let out a dry, forced laugh. “Protection? From what? She’s family—”
“She was never family to you,” I interrupted, my voice ringing out clear and powerful across the long table.
Victor looked at me, a flash of his old aristocratic arrogance showing through. “Nora, keep your mouth shut. This is business between men who understand financial obligations.”
Before the last word had fully left Victor’s mouth, Damian moved.
SLAM.
Damian slammed his open hand flat against the mahogany table with the force of a pistol shot.
Silverware rattled against porcelain. Crystal glasses chimed.
Julian practically leaped out of his seat with a squeal of terror, while Victor flinched so violently his wine glass tipped over, spilling deep red Cabernet across the crisp white linen like a stain of blood.
The room went instantly dead silent.
Damian didn't raise his voice. When he spoke, it was low, quiet, and far more terrifying than any shout.
“You will not speak to her in that tone in my presence again, Victor,” Damian said, his eyes burning with a lethal dark light. “If you do, you will leave this room without your tongue.”
Victor swallowed hard, his chest heaving under his pinstripe suit. The silver-haired man, Marcus, stepped forward from the shadow near the wall, placing a heavy manila folder onto the table in front of Victor.
“Open it,” Damian commanded calmly.
Victor’s hands trembled as he opened the folder. Inside were dozens of wiretransfer records, offshore account statements, and recorded phone transcripts detailing Victor’s personal involvement in Mark’s twelve-million-dollar embezzlement scheme.
“You didn't send Julian to find Mark’s money, Victor,” Damian revealed, leaning back in his chair with supreme satisfaction. “You sent Julian to intimidate Nora because you needed a scapegoat to present to my syndicate before our auditors discovered that you were the one who helped Mark move eight million dollars into a Swiss holding company in Zurich.”
Victor’s face turned gray. “That’s... those records are private banking files! You can't have those!”
“I have everything, Victor,” Damian said smoothly. “I own the bank in Zurich.”
Julian looked at his uncle in horror. “Uncle Vic? You told me Mark took all the money! You said Nora had the offshore keys!”
“Shut up, Julian!” Victor hissed, sweating profusely.
Damian picked up a gold fountain pen and tossed it lightly onto the manila folder.
“Here are your options, Victor,” Damian stated, his voice as cold as arctic ice. “Option one: You sign a full confession and asset surrender transfer for the eight million dollars currently sitting in Zurich, payable to my syndicate by midnight. And you sign a legally binding covenant relinquishing all contact, harassment, or legal claims against Nora Vance and her daughter.”
Victor stared at the pen. “And... option two?”
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Damian smiled—a chilling, terrifying expression that didn't reach his eyes.
“Option two is that Marcus takes you and Julian down to the basement right now, and we let my auditors explain how we handle debt recovery in the dark.”
