Chapter 7 - THE PENTHOUSE RECKONING
While Elias was dismantling Santoro’s empire across town, a very different kind of reckoning was taking place at the ultra-exclusive Rittenhouse Square penthouse.
Margot Ashford stood in the middle of her sprawling, minimalist living room, screaming at a pair of bewildered movers who were currently stacking her designer Chanel luggage by the front door.
"What do you mean my cards are declined?!" Margot shrieked, waving her platinum card in the air. "Do you know who I am? Call Elias Baron right now!"
"We don't need to call him, Miss Ashford," a cold, smooth female voice echoed from the private elevator foyer.
Margot spun around.
Walking out of the elevator wasn't a mob enforcer or a lawyer. It was a woman with sharp brown eyes, wearing a simple trench coat over hospital scrubs, carrying a single manila envelope.
Margot narrowed her eyes in pure disgust, recognizing the face from a security photo Warren's team had pulled earlier. "Ah. The little charity case from the ER. Did Elias pick you up off the street as a new pet project? How pathetic."
Clara didn't blink. She walked calmly into the center of the penthouse, unbothered by the multi-million-dollar art on the walls.
"Mr. Baron asked me to deliver a message," Clara said evenly, tossing the manila envelope onto the glass coffee table.
Margot scoffed, crossing her arms. "I don't read junk mail. Tell Elias that if he wants to beg for me back, he can crawl up these stairs himself—just like he did in the cemetery."
Clara’s eyes flashed with a dangerous, razor-sharp heat. In two swift steps, she closed the distance between them, her hand lashing out to grab Margot by the lapel of her designer silk blouse, yanking her forward with unexpected, fierce strength.
Margot gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "Let go of me, you bitch!"
"Listen to me very carefully, Margot," Clara whispered, her voice like ice water. "Eighteen months ago, a man took three bullets protecting everything he built. He needed a partner. Instead, you waited until he was broken, and you left him to suffocate in the mud like a discarded piece of trash."
Clara shoved Margot back hard, causing her to stumble against the sofa.
"Elias Baron doesn't need you anymore," Clara continued, adjusting her coat. "In fact, as of ten minutes ago, this penthouse belongs to Baron Holdings. Your luggage is packed, your cards are blocked, and your status as a Philadelphia socialite has officially expired. Have a wonderful life starting over."
May you like
Before Margot could scream another word, the front doors of the penthouse opened, revealing two building security guards accompanied by Warren, who held a set of freshly changed door locks.
"Time to check out, Miss Ashford," Warren grinned warmly.
