Chapter 10 - FLOOR SIXTY-ONE
Sterling Tower had sixty floors.
At least according to every architectural plan.
Adrian told them there was another.
A hidden level constructed for Charles Sterling.
Floor sixty-one.
No elevator button.
No public access.
Arthur had owned the building for twenty years.
He had never known it existed.
Daniel accessed the elevator controls.
A hidden command appeared.
The doors opened.
Arthur stepped inside.
Maya followed.
“So do I.”
Richard entered.
Adrian came last.
The elevator rose.
When the doors opened, Arthur saw his father’s real empire.
Files.
Surveillance screens.
Photographs.
Recordings.
Decades of secrets.
Judges accepting money.
Executives with mistresses.
Politicians taking bribes.
Police officers receiving envelopes.
Charles Sterling had not built a hotel empire.
He had built a blackmail empire.
Maya stared at hundreds of boxes.
“My mother knew.”
Arthur nodded.
“That’s why she was afraid.”
A slow clap came from the darkness.
Eleanor stepped forward.
Elegant.
Calm.
Untouched.
Claire stood beside her.
Alive.
Arthur moved toward his daughter.
Men appeared with weapons.
He stopped.
Eleanor smiled.
“Welcome to the real Sterling inheritance.”
Arthur stared at her.
“Let Claire go.”
“Sign first.”
A contract waited on the table.
Arthur read it.
Transfer of controlling shares.
Maya noticed another document.
It transferred her inheritance too.
“I’m not signing.”
Eleanor looked at her.
“You will.”
“Why?”
Eleanor smiled.
“Because your mother did.”
Maya froze.
Eleanor produced a video.
Isabel appeared.
Alive.
Older than Maya remembered.
The timestamp was impossible.
Six months after Isabel’s supposed death.
Maya stared.
“My mother survived?”
Eleanor smiled.
“For six months.”
Maya’s eyes filled.
“What did you do to her?”
“I offered her a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Disappear forever.”
“Or watch you disappear instead.”
Maya lunged toward Eleanor.
Arthur stopped her.
Eleanor remained calm.
“She chose you.”
Maya shook with rage.
May you like
Eleanor placed the contract in front of her.
“Now let’s see whether you’re as good a daughter as she was.”
