Chapter 5 - THE SHADOW OPERATION
The next morning, Nathaniel woke up and kissed Evelyn on the forehead before heading to the Chicago office. He played the stressed, oblivious billionaire flawlessly. When he arrived at Cross Urban Development’s glass-tower headquarters, Richard Vance was waiting in his office, holding two cups of artisanal coffee.
“Rough flight?” Richard asked, handing Nathaniel a cup. Richard was tall, athletic, with a disarming smile that hid a shark’s teeth.
“You have no idea,” Nathaniel sighed, rubbing his temples. “The Detroit numbers are giving me a headache. Are we absolutely sure about the environmental cleanup contractors? The capital outlay is massive.”
He watched Richard carefully. The COO didn't blink. “I vetted them myself, Nate. They’re the best in the business. Once you sign the final authorization on Friday, we break ground next month. It’s your masterpiece.”
“Good,” Nathaniel smiled, taking a sip of the coffee. “I trust you, Dick. More than anyone.”
Later that afternoon, Nathaniel’s encrypted phone buzzed. It was Vance, the fixer.
“We secured Clara Whitmore and her daughter,” the gruff voice reported. “Moved them to a safe house in upstate New York. Total media blackout. Evelyn’s surveillance is live. You were right. She met with Richard an hour ago at a boutique hotel downtown. We have audio.”
A file pinged into Nathaniel’s inbox. He put in his earbuds and hit play.
“He doesn't suspect a thing,” Richard’s voice crackled through the audio. “He practically handed me the pen today. By Friday, the money moves. By Monday, the SEC gets the anonymous tip.”
“Make sure the housekeeper is dealt with,” Evelyn’s cold voice responded. “She knows too much. If she talks, the whole thing falls apart.”
“I’ll send someone to her house tonight to ensure her silence,” Richard promised.
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Nathaniel clenched his jaw so hard his teeth ached. They were actually going to kill Clara. The sheer magnitude of their betrayal morphed his heartbreak into a weaponized, icy resolve. They wanted his money. They wanted his freedom. But Nathaniel was going to take everything from them.
“Vance,” Nathaniel texted his fixer. “Intercept whoever Richard sends to Clara’s house tonight. Break their legs, take their phones, and find out who’s paying them. Then, prep the forensic accountants. We are rewriting the Detroit contracts.”
