Chapter 4 - The Shadow of Apex
The silence in the room became heavy.
Vance stared at her, his eyes darkening. Apex Logistics was a company he had acquired eighteen months ago. He had delegated its daily management to a regional director named Gregory Vance—his uncle—who had assured him the transition was seamless and humane.
"Apex," Vance repeated, the word sounding like ice breaking underfoot.
"Yes," Clare whispered, pulling her babies closer, fearing she had said something wrong. "David worked there for six years. They said his death wasn't covered under workplace benefits because he was ten minutes past his official shift when the accident happened."
Vance stood up slowly, stepping toward the window. He looked out at the city below, his reflection dark against the glass.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a private number.
"Marcus," Vance spoke into the phone, his voice carrying an icy edge. "Call legal. Tell Arthur I need the entire employee claim audit for Apex Logistics over the last twelve months on my desk by 7:00 AM tomorrow."
"Sir? It's Christmas morning tomorrow," Marcus noted gently over the line.
"Then Arthur better work quickly," Vance replied flatly, hanging up.
He turned back to Clare, walking over to sit beside her on the edge of the sofa.
"Clare," Vance said, his tone softening completely. "David’s death should have been covered. My company owns Apex. And I promise you right now, whoever authorized that denial is going to answer for it."
Clare stared at him in disbelief. "You... you own Apex?"
"I do," Vance admitted. "And that means what happened to you and your daughters is my responsibility. I failed to oversee the people running that division. But I am going to fix it."
"Mr. Sterling, you don't owe us anything," Clare said, tears welling up again. "You saved our lives tonight. That's more than anyone has ever done for us."
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"I owe you justice, Clare," Vance said firmly, reaching out to gently touch the tiny hand of baby Emma, who instinctively wrapped her tiny fingers around his thumb.
For the first time in nine months, Clare felt something she thought had died along with David: hope.
