Chapter 7 - The Man Behind the Empire
Dominic didn't speak during the drive back to Chicago.
Griffin had arranged for Victoria to stay at a secure location, but Dominic's mind remained on the photograph.
Arthur Rourke.
His father's younger brother.
The man who had taught him how to negotiate, how to read people, and how to survive in a world where loyalty was often purchased.
Dominic had believed Arthur was dead.
Now he understood why certain business decisions had always felt strangely familiar.
Arthur had never left.
He had simply allowed Dominic to become the public face of the empire.
When Dominic entered the office, Griffin was waiting with a stack of financial records.
"We traced the transfers."
"Where?"
"Several shell companies. The money ultimately moved through an account connected to the Marlowe Trust."
Dominic frowned.
"Eliza's inheritance?"
"Someone used a forged authorization to route money through it."
"Can you prove who?"
Griffin placed a photograph on the desk.
Celeste.
Standing outside a private bank with Arthur Rourke.
Dominic's expression turned cold.
"How long?"
"At least eighteen months."
Eighteen months.
That meant Celeste had been involved before the public announcement.
Before the divorce papers.
Possibly before Dominic had ever told her he loved her.
He called Eliza.
She answered after the fourth ring.
"What?"
"I need you to see something."
"I'm with Rebecca."
"Then bring her."
An hour later, Eliza arrived at Blackridge headquarters.
Dominic showed her the photograph.
She stared at Celeste.
Then at the man beside her.
"Who is he?"
"My uncle."
"The one who supposedly died?"
"Yes."
Eliza sat down.
"Why would Celeste work with him?"
"Because he wants control of Blackridge. And your trust owns part of the company."
Rebecca examined the documents.
"These transfers are substantial."
"How much?" Eliza asked.
"Several million dollars."
Eliza felt sick.
"Someone has been using my name to steal money."
Dominic nodded.
"I'll recover every dollar."
Rebecca looked at him sharply.
"With respect, Mr. Rourke, your promise isn't enough. We need independent records, law enforcement cooperation, and protection for my client."
Dominic looked at Eliza.
"She's right."
It was a small sentence.
But it was the first time he had openly accepted someone else's authority over a decision concerning his wife.
Before the meeting ended, Griffin entered.
"Celeste has disappeared."
Dominic stood.
"Where?"
"Her apartment is empty. Her car is abandoned."
A message appeared on Eliza's phone.
Unknown number.
Your husband has something that belongs to me. If you want to keep your baby, bring the emerald necklace to the old Rourke estate. Alone.
Eliza showed Dominic.
His face changed.
"Absolutely not."
"Then what do we do?"
"We call the police."
Rebecca immediately agreed.
But the message contained another detail.
A photograph of Paige.
She was sitting in her car outside the apartment.
The image had been taken minutes earlier.
Eliza's blood turned cold.
"Paige."
Dominic called Griffin.
"Find her. Now."
They reached the parking garage ten minutes later.
Paige's car was still there.
Her handbag lay on the passenger seat.
Her phone was on the floor.
But Paige was gone.
Eliza screamed her sister's name.
Dominic grabbed the phone.
A final message appeared.
Bring the necklace. Midnight. No police.
Eliza looked at Dominic.
"She's my sister."
"I know."
"Then we go."
"No. We involve the authorities."
"What if they hurt her before we arrive?"
Dominic held her shoulders.
"Listen to me. I'm not going to trade your life or our daughter's for a trap."
Eliza's eyes filled.
"You don't get to decide who I lose."
He stared at her.
Then he released her.
For the first time, he understood that protecting Eliza did not mean controlling her.
It meant standing beside her.
At 11:30 p.m., they received a video.
Paige was tied to a chair inside the old Rourke estate.
Behind her stood Arthur.
He looked directly into the camera.
"Hello, Dominic. Bring my mother's necklace."
Then he smiled.
"And bring the woman who knows where the original documents are."
Eliza whispered, "What documents?"
Dominic looked at her.
May you like
Arthur answered through the video.
"Ask your grandmother's granddaughter."
