Chapter 2 - DAMIAN’S LAST CARD
Damian sat alone in the executive waiting room.
An hour earlier, employees had rushed to greet him whenever he entered the building.
Now security guards stood outside the door.
Nobody offered him coffee.
Nobody asked whether he needed anything.
Nobody even called him “Mr. Cross.”
His phone showed dozens of missed calls.
His bank.
His attorney.
Investors.
Board members.
Journalists.
Veronica.
He ignored all of them.
The anonymous message remained on his screen.
SHE FOUND THE ACCOUNTS. SAY NOTHING.
Damian deleted it.
Then the door opened.
Elena entered alone.
Damian stood immediately.
“You.”
Elena closed the door.
He laughed bitterly.
“You really enjoy this, don’t you?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie.”
Damian stepped toward her.
“You waited years for this.”
Elena studied him.
“I didn’t know there was anything to wait for.”
Damian’s expression flickered.
That was enough.
Elena noticed.
“The offshore companies.”
Damian said nothing.
“The Legacy Trust.”
Still nothing.
But his jaw tightened.
Elena walked closer.
“Who helped you?”
Damian smiled.
“There she is.”
Elena stopped.
“The real Elena Voss.”
“You never knew me.”
“I knew exactly what you wanted me to know.”
His confidence was returning.
That interested her.
A man who had lost nearly everything should not suddenly look confident.
Unless he believed he still possessed leverage.
Damian leaned toward her.
“You think signing a document makes you untouchable?”
“No.”
“You think freezing accounts makes you powerful?”
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
Elena continued.
“I think knowing exactly what people do when they believe nobody important is watching makes me powerful.”
Damian’s face tightened.
“You let me humiliate you.”
“Yes.”
“You let Veronica insult you.”
“Yes.”
“You could have stopped everything.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Elena stared directly into his eyes.
“Because arrogance makes people careless.”
Damian went silent.
“And you were extremely careless.”
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Damian laughed.
“You still don’t understand.”
Elena waited.
Damian stepped closer.
“You think I stole from you.”
“I think you stole from everyone.”
“No.”
His voice lowered.
“I was protecting myself.”
“From whom?”
Damian looked toward the security camera.
Elena noticed.
“Turn it off.”
Nothing happened.
Damian smiled.
“I said turn it off.”
Elena folded her arms.
“You’re in my building.”
Damian leaned toward her.
“Then you’ll never hear what I know.”
Elena considered him.
Then she pressed a button on the wall.
The camera indicator went dark.
Damian watched carefully.
“You should check your father’s final year.”
Elena froze.
Damian saw it.
And smiled.
“My father has been dead for eleven years.”
“I know.”
“What does he have to do with this?”
“Everything.”
Damian lowered his voice.
“Your father didn’t die believing Voss Global belonged entirely to you.”
Elena stared at him.
“That’s enough.”
“Ask your lawyers.”
“Enough.”
“Ask them about Project Monarch.”
Elena’s breathing slowed.
She had never heard that name.
Damian moved toward the door.
“You destroyed my empire today.”
He turned back.
“But if you keep digging, you might discover yours was never really yours.”
Elena opened the door.
Marcus immediately stepped inside.
“Take him downstairs.”
Damian allowed Marcus to escort him away.
But before leaving, he looked back.
“Project Monarch.”
He smiled.
“Ask who signed it.”
The door closed.
Elena remained completely still.
Then she called Natalie.
“Search every archive we have.”
“For what?”
Elena looked toward the door Damian had disappeared through.
“Project Monarch.”
Natalie paused.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“Neither have I.”
May you like
Elena’s voice hardened.
“And that is exactly why I want to know everything.”
