Chapter 6 - The Turncoat
Chloe Vance was a survivor, which meant she possessed zero loyalty.
With Marcus officially ruined and facing prison time, Chloe realized the luxury life she had envisioned was dead. But she was still terrified of the embezzlement charges hanging over her head.
She showed up at my house unannounced on a rainy Thursday night. I watched her through the security cameras. She was soaking wet, shivering on the porch, looking nothing like the smug woman who had stood in my mother's church.
I opened the door, leaving the heavy chain engaged. "What do you want, Chloe?"
"Please, Eleanor," she begged, her voice cracking. "Let me in. I can help you destroy him."
I considered leaving her in the rain, but curiosity won out. I undid the chain and let her step into the foyer. She dripped water onto the hardwood, looking around the massive, quiet house.
"I already destroyed him," I said, crossing my arms. "He's bankrupt and facing federal indictment. What could you possibly offer me?"
Chloe dug into her wet purse and pulled out a sleek, black USB drive.
"Marcus didn't just embezzle from your mother," Chloe whispered, her eyes wide. "He was selling her corporate secrets. He used his PR firm to launder confidential bids your mother was making on commercial properties, and he sold those numbers to rival developers so they could outbid her. It's corporate espionage."
I stared at the drive. Embezzlement was one thing, but selling my mother's life's work to her enemies? That was treason.
"Why are you giving this to me?" I asked, analyzing her desperate face.
"Because he put my name on the offshore accounts he used to accept the bribes," she sobbed. "If he goes down, he's going to drag me with him. He told me it was just a tax shelter! I swear I didn't know he was stealing from your family. Please, Eleanor. Take the drive, give it to the feds, but leave my name out of it. Grant me immunity."
I took the USB drive from her shaking hand. I looked at this woman, who had slept in my bed, worn my clothes, and mocked my grief.
"I'll make sure the DA knows you cooperated," I said coldly. "But if you ever set foot in this city again, if I ever see your face at a gala, a restaurant, or on a sidewalk, I will ruin you so thoroughly you won't even be able to get a job pouring coffee. Do you understand me?"
She nodded frantically, tears streaming down her face. "Yes. Yes, thank you."
"Get out of my house."
May you like
She turned and fled into the rain. I locked the door, walked into my home office, and plugged the drive in. The evidence was staggering. Marcus wasn't just a cheater; he was a parasite who had been feeding off my family's legacy for a decade.
I picked up the phone and dialed Mr. Sterling. "Arthur. Call the District Attorney. We are burying him."
