Chapter 10 - The Confrontation
Adrian’s car tore back up the driveway, smashing through the decorative wooden gates.
Inside the study, the brute-force cracker beeped a green light.
The safe clicked open.
Veronica smiled, reaching inside and grabbing the silver hard drive.
She slipped it into her bag.
Just then, a gentle knock sounded at the study door.
“Ms. Sterling?” Grace called out.
Veronica picked up the silenced pistol from the desk and hid it behind her back.
“Come in, Grace.”
Grace pushed the door open, carrying a spray bottle and a rag.
She looked around the pristine room. “Where is the spill, ma'am?”
Veronica stepped toward her, raising the gun.
“I’m sorry, Grace. You really were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Grace gasped, dropping the cleaning supplies.
Before Veronica could pull the trigger, the heavy oak doors crashed open.
Adrian stood in the doorway, a Smith & Wesson leveled directly at Veronica’s chest.
“Drop it,” Adrian roared.
Veronica froze, her eyes wide with shock.
Marcus stepped in behind Adrian, his own weapon drawn, flanking her.
“Adrian,” Veronica stammered, frantically trying to play the victim.
“Thank God you’re here! I caught her trying to rob your safe!”
“Save it, Veronica,” Adrian spat.
He stepped into the room, keeping his gun perfectly steady.
“Or should I call you Vittoria Marzano?”
Veronica’s face drained of color.
The name hit her like a physical blow.
“Dominic does good background work,” Adrian said coldly.
“Your father really thought he could plant his youngest daughter in my bed to dismantle my empire?”
Veronica slowly lowered her gun, her facade crumbling.
“You knew.”
“I’ve known since Thursday,” Adrian said.
“Since you tried to poison me with wolfsbane.”
Veronica scoffed, a bitter, ugly sound.
“That stupid little girl. She noticed a scratch on a glass. A microscopic scratch.”
Grace stepped behind Adrian, trembling but unharmed.
“You tried to kill him,” Grace whispered in horror.
“I tried to secure my family’s future!” Veronica yelled, her composed demeanor shattering.
“You’re a dinosaur, Adrian. Your way of doing business is over.”
“Maybe,” Adrian said quietly.
“But I’m not the one standing in a trap.”
He nodded toward the bag slung over her shoulder.
“The drive you just stole is a trojan horse. If you plug that into a Marzano computer, it will wipe your family’s offshore accounts in thirty seconds.”
Veronica looked at the bag in horror.
May you like
“You’re bluffing.”
“Try me,” Adrian challenged.
