Chapter 13 - The Intruder in the Ledger
The afternoon sun cast long, amber rays across the polished mahogany desk in Nico’s private study at the Vale Estate. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, smelling faintly of old leather, cedarwood, and aged scotch. But right now, the rich scent of the room was interrupted by an unmistakable wave of tension.
Nico sat behind the desk, his broad shoulders tensed under his shirt, his dark eyes fixed on an encrypted laptop screen. Standing across from him was Detective Miller, a retired Boston police investigator who now ran corporate intelligence for Vale Enterprises.
"You're entirely certain about this, Miller?" Nico’s voice dropped an octave, the temperature in the room plunging instantly.
"Positive, Mr. Vale," Miller said, sliding a thick manila folder across the mahogany surface. "The leak didn't come from the lower-level staff at Winter & Rye. It originated from an offshore shell company tied directly to Julian Vance."
Nico’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched violently in his cheek. Julian Vance—Marcus’s estranged nephew and a disgraced corporate raider who had spent years trying to dismantle the Vale family’s real estate holdings. Julian had gone silent after the Christmas Eve audit, but it seemed his bitter crusade had merely shifted targets.
"He’s targeting Clara," Nico said, more to himself than to the detective. The realization hit him like a physical blow to the chest, igniting a cold, primal fury that he hadn't felt in years. "He thinks by undermining her bakery, he can strike at my supply chain and, by extension, my household."
May you like
"What are your orders, sir?" Miller asked, his face impassive. "Do we crush him legally, or do we let him make a move so we can catch him red-handed?"
Nico stood up slowly, towering over the desk. The silver threads in his dark hair seemed to glint under the desk lamp like steel wire. "We don't crush him yet, Miller. A cornered rat bites blindly. I want you to double security around Clara—shadow her every move without making her feel like a prisoner. And as for Julian..." A dangerous, predatory smile touched the corners of Nico’s mouth. "Let him think he’s winning. Let him pour every last cent into his little sabotage scheme. When he makes his final play, I’ll pull the rug out from under him so hard he won't know which century hit him."
