Chapter 8 - THE BILLIONAIRE’S HEIR
Richard survived.
Barely.
The bullet missed his heart.
His confession, however, did not miss Thomas.
Federal agents obtained warrants.
Properties were raided.
Accounts frozen.
Associates arrested.
Thomas vanished.
Meanwhile, another war began.
The board of Cole Meridian learned Nora existed.
Within hours, attorneys filled Adrian’s conference room.
James’s daughter was legally entitled to his trust interest.
Grace sat at the table in a simple navy dress while men who earned millions discussed her three-year-old child as though she were an asset.
One director finally said, “The mother could be compensated.”
Adrian slowly looked at him.
“Compensated for what?”
“For surrendering the voting proxy.”
Grace stiffened.
The director continued.
“Twenty million would change her life.”
Adrian stood.
“Get out.”
“Adrian—”
“Before I have security explain the difference between a mother and a line item.”
The man left.
Grace stared at Adrian.
“You didn't have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.”
“No. You chose to.”
That distinction stayed with him.
Later, Grace found Adrian in the garden with Nora.
He was teaching her to throw pebbles into the pond.
She threw one backward.
It nearly hit him.
“Excellent,” Adrian said. “Natural athlete.”
Nora giggled.
Grace watched them.
Something inside her softened.
Adrian had spent years becoming difficult to need.
Nora had ignored the warning.
She needed him anyway.
And increasingly, so did Grace.
That frightened her.
That evening, Adrian found her on the terrace.
“You're avoiding me.”
“I live in your house.”
“You're unusually talented.”
Grace smiled despite herself.
Then became serious.
“When this is over, Nora and I should leave.”
Adrian's face changed.
“Why?”
“Because she needs a normal life.”
“She has one here.”
“She has armed guards.”
“Temporary.”
“She owns a corporate voting interest worth hundreds of millions.”
“Technically more.”
“That wasn't comforting.”
He smiled.
Grace looked at him.
“You love her.”
The smile disappeared.
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Grace swallowed.
“She loves you too.”
“And you?”
Silence.
Adrian stepped closer.
Grace's heart pounded.
“That's not fair.”
“I know.”
“Your brother was the love of my life.”
“I know.”
“You look like him sometimes.”
“I know.”
“And sometimes you don't.”
Adrian waited.
“That’s when this becomes confusing.”
He touched her cheek.
Grace closed her eyes.
Then his phone rang.
Marcus.
Thomas had surfaced.
At Cole Meridian headquarters.
And he had taken twelve employees hostage.
Adrian arrived to find the tower surrounded by police.
Thomas called him.
“Come upstairs.”
“Release everyone.”
“Bring the ledger.”
“The government has copies.”
“I know.”
“Then what do you want?”
Thomas laughed.
“The child.”
Adrian's blood froze.
“You'll never get near her.”
“You misunderstand. I don't need to.”
A photograph arrived on Adrian’s phone.
Grace and Nora.
Taken that morning.
Inside the mansion.
Someone inside security was still working for Thomas.
Adrian turned to Marcus.
“Lock the estate down.”
Thomas continued.
“Your brother ruined everything because he fell in love with a housekeeper’s daughter.”
“She wasn't a housekeeper then.”
“Details.”
“You killed him for shares?”
“For control.”
“You already had money.”
Thomas sounded almost offended.
“Money is what people without power think powerful people want.”
Adrian stared at the tower.
“What happens now?”
“You come upstairs.”
“And then?”
“One Cole brother already made the mistake of trying to stop me.”
Thomas paused.
“Let's see whether the other one is smarter.”
Adrian entered the building.
Alone.
On the sixty-second floor, Thomas waited beside the windows.
No hostages.
No armed men.
Just Thomas.
Adrian stopped.
“Where is everyone?”
“Released.”
“Why?”
“Because they were never the point.”
Thomas placed a phone on the table.
Live video showed Grace’s bedroom.
Empty.
Then Nora’s room.
Empty.
Thomas frowned.
Adrian smiled.
“You really thought I'd leave them there?”
For the first time, Thomas looked uncertain.
Adrian had moved Grace and Nora before coming.
Only Marcus knew where.
Thomas's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“No.”
Adrian understood.
The safe house was compromised.
Thomas looked at him.
Then smiled.
“Apparently Marcus wasn't the only one who knew.”
Adrian lunged for the phone.
Too late.
The screen changed.
Grace appeared.
Her hands bound.
May you like
Behind her stood Nora.
And Nora was crying.
