CHAPTER 2 — THE CALL THAT SHOOK AN EMPIRE
CHAPTER 2 — THE CALL THAT SHOOK AN EMPIRE
Adrian stared at me for several seconds after the lights flickered.
Then he laughed.
It was loud.
Confident.
Cruel.
"You actually called your father?" he asked. "The father you've never mentioned in ten years?"
Vanessa covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked.
"Oh, this is getting entertaining."
I slipped the phone back into my purse.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Adrian walked down the marble steps until he stood only inches away from me.
Rain soaked the polished leather of his expensive shoes.
"I investigated every part of your life before I married you."
His smile returned.
"You grew up in a small town. Your mother died young. You worked two jobs in college. There is no billionaire father."
I looked directly into his eyes.
"You never investigated hard enough."
For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face.
Only for a second.
Then his phone rang.
He answered without looking at the screen.
"What?"
His confident expression slowly faded.
"What do you mean the Zurich transfer failed?"
Silence.
"No. Try another bank."
Another pause.
His jaw tightened.
"What do you mean every corporate account is under review?"
He looked at me.
The color drained from his face.
I turned and began walking down the long driveway barefoot.
Behind me, I heard him barking orders.
"Call the bank!"
"Call legal!"
"Find out who's behind this!"
Vanessa hurried after him.
"Adrian... what's happening?"
"Nothing."
His voice was sharper now.
"Someone's playing games."
Across town, nearly twenty black SUVs rolled through the rain.
Each carried the silver crest of Sterling International Holdings.
Inside the lead vehicle sat my father.
Richard Sterling.
For three years, he had honored my request.
He had never interfered.
Never exposed my identity.
Never rescued me.
When I married Adrian, I believed love should exist without wealth.
I refused every trust fund.
Rejected every position in the family company.
Even changed my last name.
My father warned me only once.
"If the man truly loves you, he'll still love you without knowing who you are."
I had smiled.
"I know he will."
Tonight proved how wrong I had been.
Richard looked out the rain-covered window.
"Prepare every document."
His chief attorney nodded.
"The emergency ownership transfers have already begun."
"What about Blackstone Capital?"
"They've agreed to terminate every financing agreement before midnight."
"And the mansion?"
The lawyer smiled slightly.
"The mansion has always belonged to Sterling Heritage Trust."
Richard closed his eyes.
"I knew she'd eventually call."
Another executive spoke quietly.
"Sir... should we show mercy?"
Richard's answer came immediately.
"He showed my daughter none."
Back at the mansion, Adrian slammed his office desk so hard that the crystal glass shattered.
"This is impossible!"
His CFO stood pale as paper.
"Our lenders are withdrawing."
"Our investors?"
"Three already suspended negotiations."
"Our credit lines?"
"Frozen."
"Our overseas partners?"
"They're refusing to answer."
Adrian grabbed the man by the collar.
"WHO DID THIS?"
The CFO whispered,
"Every document references one controlling shareholder."
"Who?"
The answer nearly stopped Adrian's heart.
"Sterling Heritage Trust."
The room became completely silent.
Vanessa frowned.
"I've never heard of them."
But Adrian had.
Years ago, every ambitious businessman dreamed of becoming one of Sterling's partners.
The family never appeared in magazines.
Never attended celebrity events.
They quietly owned banks.
Ports.
Shipping companies.
Luxury hotels.
Entire districts in major cities.
People whispered that fighting the Sterlings was financial suicide.
Adrian slowly looked toward the rain outside.
Claire...
Who are you?
May you like
For the first time that night...
He was afraid.
