Chapter 7 - The Locked Ballroom.
Fear spread through the ballroom faster than sound.
Investors began pushing toward the exits.
The doors would not open.
Sloane gripped the microphone.
“Unlock them.”
Harrison ignored her.
Nathan pulled Julian away from Claire.
Julian stopped resisting.
That frightened Claire more than the guards.
He knew something worse was coming.
Harrison walked toward the stage.
“Claire.”
She remained beside Anne.
“You have one thing that belongs to me.”
Claire touched the USB through her apron.
“No.”
Harrison stopped.
“That drive was never supposed to leave Martin Kessler’s office.”
Claire recognized the name.
The hotel manager.
The man whose office she had been cleaning ten minutes before Julian appeared.
She remembered how strange the room had been.
The unlocked drawer.
The computer still running.
The USB lying beside a coffee cup.
Too easy.
Claire’s pulse changed.
“You wanted me to find it.”
Harrison smiled faintly.
Sloane looked at him.
“What?”
Claire understood.
“This was a trap.”
Harrison nodded.
“Not for you.”
His eyes moved toward Julian.
“For him.”
Julian went pale.
Claire turned.
Harrison continued.
“We knew someone had been copying financial records.”
Julian shook his head.
“Harrison.”
“You became ambitious.”
“Harrison, don’t.”
“You forged my authorization.”
Julian’s eyes darted toward the exits.
“You stole through companies even I didn’t know existed.”
Claire looked between them.
Julian had betrayed everyone.
Harrison.
Claire.
Sloane.
Maybe even himself.
Harrison pointed toward Claire.
“The moment she removed that drive, we knew whoever panicked first was our thief.”
Claire felt sick.
“You used me again.”
Harrison’s expression softened almost imperceptibly.
“I didn’t know you worked here.”
“That makes it better?”
“No.”
Anne tried to stand.
Claire supported her.
“You imprisoned me.”
Harrison looked at Anne.
“For your protection.”
Anne laughed weakly.
“You drugged me.”
“You were going to expose everything.”
“That is not protection.”
Harrison’s jaw tightened.
A loud bang struck one ballroom door.
Then another.
Someone outside was trying to get in.
Nathan looked toward the ceiling cameras.
“Police?”
Harrison shook his head.
“No.”
Julian suddenly started laughing.
Everyone turned.
His laughter was quiet at first.
Then louder.
Claire stared at him.
“What’s funny?”
Julian looked at Harrison.
“You still think you’re in control.”
Harrison’s face changed.
Julian nodded toward the giant screen.
“You built this empire using dirty money long before I arrived.”
Sloane looked at her father.
Harrison said nothing.
Julian continued.
“I didn’t steal your system.”
He smiled.
“I improved it.”
The ballroom lights went out.
People screamed.
Emergency lights flashed red.
Then the giant screen turned on.
A photograph appeared.
A young woman with dark hair.
Nathan stopped breathing.
“Rebecca.”
His missing sister.
Across the bottom of the screen appeared one line.
ACCOUNT HOLDER 4418.
Nathan released Julian.
Julian stepped away.
“You want the truth?”
His voice carried through the darkness.
“Ask Harrison what happened to Rebecca Shaw.”
May you like
Nathan turned toward the billionaire.
Harrison’s silence was worse than an answer.
