Chapter 3 - The Wolf at the Door
The heavy mahogany doors of the private office blew open before Sebastian could even issue another command.
Arthur Vance strode into the room uninvited, his expensive Italian suit sharply contrasting with the stormy gloom outside. He carried himself with the smug, untouchable swagger of a man who believed he owned half of Manhattan. Behind him hovered two private security guards, their eyes scanning the expansive penthouse suite with predatory efficiency.
“Sebastian, we have a serious compliance issue regarding the—terminations—at the Genoa port,” Vance started, freezing mid-sentence as his eyes landed on the scene before him.
Sebastian stood motionless beside his desk, his towering frame shielding the leather armchair where Lily’s pink blanket had been hastily tossed. His face was an absolute mask of chilling, frozen calm.
Vance’s gaze flicked down, noticing the lingering tension in the air, the unclosed velvet box on the desk, and the faint, unmistakable scent of baby powder mixed with expensive espresso. A slow, knowing smirk spread across Vance’s thin lips.
“Well, well,” Vance drawled, taking a slow step forward. “I didn't realize Romano Global Enterprises had expanded into daycare services. Who’s the little visitor? Or should I ask... which of your high-society girlfriends decided to drop her baggage off at the office?”
My heart hammered frantically against my ribs inside the dark, cramped confines of the private washroom. Through the narrow gap in the louvered door, I could see Vance’s silhouette standing just feet away. If he took two steps toward the desk, he would see Lily's stroller, or worse, notice Sebastian's unusually protective posture.
“Watch your tongue, Arthur,” Sebastian replied, his voice dropping into a low, venomous cadence that made even Vance hesitate. “My private life is not a board meeting topic. State your business and get out of my office.”
Vance chuckled, though his eyes remained cold and calculating. He walked casually toward the desk, pretending to admire the view of the rainy Manhattan skyline.
“Just doing a routine check on our shipping manifests, Sebastian. Ever since your brother Julian disappeared fourteen months ago, things have been... loose,” Vance said, emphasizing Julian's name with a subtle, mocking inflection. “Some people say Julian was getting too close to uncovering the board's offshore accounts before his yacht went down. Tragic accident, really. A man alone at sea... bodies washed away by the tide.”
Sebastian didn't flinch, but his knuckles turned stark white as he gripped the edge of the mahogany desk. “Julian’s accident was investigated and closed by federal authorities, Arthur. Bring it up again, and you won't need to worry about Genoa ports—you'll need to worry about whether you keep your seat on this board.”
Vance’s smirk faltered slightly, replaced by a flash of suppressed malice. He leaned in closer to Sebastian, lowering his voice. “Just make sure you keep your eyes on the business, Sebastian. Sentimentality is a weakness. And in our world, weaknesses get buried.”
With a sharp turn on his heel, Vance signaled his guards and strode out of the office, the heavy doors slamming shut behind him with a final, ominous echo.
Inside the washroom, I let out a shaky, silent breath, sliding down the cold tile wall until my knees hit the floor.
The door clicked open a moment later. Sebastian stood in the doorway, his chest heaving with controlled fury. He looked down at me, his dark eyes softening just a fraction before he knelt and handed me my daughter, who was blissfully unaware of how close we had just come to disaster.
“He knows,” I whispered, clutching Lily tightly to my chest. “Vance suspects something. He knows Julian was investigating the board before he disappeared.”
“Vance doesn't know everything,” Sebastian replied, his jaw set in a hard line of absolute determination. He reached out, gently touching the silver pendant resting against Lily’s sweater. “For the last fourteen months, I thought I was the only one looking for the truth about my brother's death. I was wrong.”
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He looked up, meeting my eyes with a fierce, unwavering resolve.
“You’re not hiding in this penthouse anymore, Claire. From this moment on, you and Lily are under my personal protection. And together, we’re going to make the men who killed Julian pay for every single secret they tried to bury.”
