Chapter 4 - The Ledger of Blood
At eight o'clock the following morning, Clara woke to the smell of fresh espresso and toasted pastries.
She dressed in a soft charcoal cashmere sweater and tailored black trousers from the closet, brushing her dark hair until it fell in shiny waves over her shoulders. When she walked out into the main living area of the penthouse, she found Vincent sitting at a massive glass dining table, surrounded by files, laptops, and three armed men in suits.
Vincent looked up as she entered. His gray eyes swept over her, a look of quiet satisfaction settling on his face.
"Good morning, Clara," he said, standing up and gesturing to the empty chair beside him. "Did you sleep well?"
"Better than I have in months," she admitted, taking the seat. A plate of fresh fruit, croissants, and a cup of rich espresso were immediately placed in front of her by a quiet servant.
Vincent motioned for his men to step back. Leo nodded and walked toward the terrace doors, keeping watch over the perimeter.
"Let’s talk about Harrington & Lowe," Vincent said, pulling a black leather laptop toward them. "You were a senior auditor. You discovered something before Brandon ruined you, didn't you?"
Clara set her coffee cup down, her analytical mind instantly clicking into gear. "Yes. Three months ago, I noticed a series of shell companies registered in Delaware that were routing offshore payments through Harrington & Lowe’s client escrow accounts. Over forty million dollars passed through in six months. When I brought it to my managing partner, he told me it was a confidential corporate restructuring and ordered me to delete my audit trail."
Vincent smiled—a cold, deadly smile that showed his white teeth. "And you didn't delete it."
"Of course I didn't," Clara said, her chin lifting with sudden pride. "I’m a certified public accountant, Vincent. I saved the entire encrypted raw ledger onto an external hard drive."
Vincent leaned back in his chair, staring at her with newfound respect. "Where is the drive?"
"It’s hidden inside the frame of a painting in my apartment on Erie Street," she said softly. "I knew if I kept it on my laptop, they’d wipe it. Brandon must have realized I had evidence because two days after I refused to drop the issue, my personal accounts were drained and the forged loans appeared."
Vincent stood up, pulling a sleek black coat over his shoulders.
"Leo," Vincent called out. "Get the cars ready. We’re going to River North to retrieve Clara’s hard drive."
Clara stood up quickly. "Is it safe?"
May you like
Vincent walked over to her, reaching out to straighten the collar of her cashmere sweater, his warm fingers brushing against her throat.
"With me, Clara," he murmured, his eyes locking onto hers, "you are the safest woman in this city."
