Chapter 9 - THE PRICE OF KINDNESS
By evening, Elena’s name was everywhere.
Photos from her social media appeared on television.
Her dead grandmother’s medical fundraiser was dissected by strangers.
Commentators asked whether Adrian had paid her debts.
He hadn’t.
That didn’t matter.
Claire released screenshots showing messages between someone saved as A. COLE and Elena.
Need you to play along.
Payment after gala.
Make it emotional.
Elena stared at the screen in disbelief.
“They’re fake.”
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“Can we prove it?”
“Eventually.”
“I need now.”
“That isn’t how forensics works.”
Elena grabbed her coat.
Adrian looked over.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“No.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You don’t get to tell me where I can go.”
“Someone broke into your apartment.”
“And I survived twenty-eight years before you learned my name.”
Adrian stood.
This time he used the cane beside his chair.
“I’m not trying to control you.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“By putting security outside my building?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t ask.”
Adrian opened his mouth.
Stopped.
Elena laughed without humor.
“That’s your problem.”
“What?”
“You think because your intentions are good, you don’t need permission.”
The words hit hard.
She pointed at his wheelchair.
“You hated Claire grabbing your chair because she decided she had the right.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
Elena continued.
“But when you’re scared, you do the same thing to everybody else.”
Silence.
Marcus quietly walked into the next room.
Smart man.
Adrian looked down.
“You’re right.”
Elena blinked.
He meant it.
“I should have asked.”
Her anger softened a little.
“Thank you.”
“Would you allow security outside?”
She considered.
“One person.”
“Two.”
“One.”
“One.”
A tiny smile touched her mouth.
Then vanished.
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
A man spoke.
“Ms. Marquez?”
“Yes?”
“This is Thomas Keene.”
Elena went pale.
Adrian leaned closer.
Thomas continued.
“I heard you opened the locker.”
Elena turned on speaker.
“Where are you?”
“Not safe.”
“Why did you keep the recordings?”
“Because I knew what I saw.”
Adrian spoke.
“What else did you see?”
Silence.
Then Thomas said:
“Mr. Cole?”
“Yes.”
“The brakes weren’t the original plan.”
Adrian felt cold.
“What was?”
Thomas breathed heavily.
“The original plan was to make you sign away control of Cole Meridian.”
“Who?”
“Grant.”
“And Claire?”
Another pause.
“Claire was worse.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“What does that mean?”
Thomas whispered:
“She wasn’t trying to take your company.”
“She was trying to take your name.”
Before Adrian could ask what that meant, a loud bang exploded through the phone.
May you like
Thomas grunted.
The line disconnected.
