Chapter 2 - The Morning After
At seven a.m., Silas Thorne resurrected.
I watched in morbid fascination as Elias applied the silicone prosthetics. It took him an hour, using medical-grade adhesives, airbrushed liver spots, and careful layering to bring the ancient billionaire back to life. When he finally slipped on the tailored suit that hung slightly loose to simulate a shrinking frame, and picked up the silver-handled cane, the transformation was terrifyingly complete.
"Ready, my dear?" Silas’s voice was reedy, thin, and brittle—a masterful performance.
"Yes, Silas," I replied, casting my eyes downward, adopting the posture of a broken, submissive prize.
We descended the grand staircase of the estate to the sunroom, where my family was already gorging themselves on a lavish catered breakfast. My father, Arthur, was holding court, a mimosa in hand, looking twenty years younger now that his debts were supposedly cleared. Julian was lounging in a wicker chair, scrolling through his phone with a smug grin.
"Ah! The happy couple," Arthur boomed, setting his glass down. He didn't look at me; he looked directly at Silas's checkbook. "Silas, my friend. I trust the accommodations were to your liking?"
"Adequate," Silas wheezed, leaning heavily on his cane. He reached out a trembling hand and gripped my shoulder. His fingers dug in, feigning a possessive, elderly grip. "Clara was... very accommodating."
My mother beamed, oblivious to the sick implication. "She was raised to understand duty, Silas."
Julian snorted, not bothering to look up from his screen. "Let's hope she keeps understanding it. Speaking of duty, Silas, about that secondary capital injection we discussed for the Southeast Asian routes..."
"Julian," Arthur hissed, shooting his son a warning glare.
"No, no," Silas rasped, waving a spotted hand. "Business is the blood of life, Arthur. But I will need my auditors to review the internal ledgers first. Just a formality, you understand. To ensure my... investment is secure."
Julian’s smug grin faltered for a fraction of a second. "Auditors? We already provided the prospectuses."
"I prefer my own people," Silas said, his cloudy eyes fixing on Julian with sudden, piercing clarity. "Unless there is something in the ledgers you wish to keep hidden, boy?"
May you like
"Of course not," Arthur intervened quickly, sweating slightly. "We have total transparency."
I kept my head bowed, staring at the marble floor to hide my triumphant smile. The trap was set. Julian thought he was dealing with a senile old fool with deep pockets. He had no idea he was staring into the jaws of a wolf.
