Chapter 7: The Plan

Clara's conference room was smaller than her office, but the table was just as long. Damian sat at one end. Clara at the other. Mira in the middle, laptop open.

"Peter," Clara said. "Walk me through it."

Damian slid a folder across the table. "Four years ago, he was hired as my assistant. Before that, he worked at Vance Industries. Mid-level."

"Except he was already on Marcus's payroll."

"Two months before he applied. Marcus planted him the same way he planted Elena. One to monitor my business, one to monitor my marriage."

Clara opened the folder. Bank records. Emails. A photo of Peter meeting Marcus in a parking garage.

"He's been careful," she said. "Small transfers. No patterns."

"Until now. When I started digging into Marcus, he panicked. Last transfer was three days ago. Fifty thousand. Memo line said 'consulting.'"

Mira looked up. "Enough to prove he's on Marcus's payroll. Not enough to prove he knew about the miscarriage."

"He knew." Damian's jaw tightened. "He took the call. He wrote it down. I found the note in his desk drawer six months ago. I thought it was a mistake."

Clara kept her eyes on the folder. "We can't move yet. If we confront Peter, he'll call Marcus. Marcus will destroy the evidence."

"Then how do we get it?"

"We use Peter. Feed him false information. Let him take it to Marcus. Then we watch what Marcus does with it."

Damian frowned. "You want to use me as bait."

"I want to use your company as bait. Peter needs to believe you're still in the dark. That you trust him. That you're leaning on him more than ever."

"That won't be easy."

"Nothing about this is easy." Clara closed the folder. "But we have one advantage. Peter doesn't know we're working together. He thinks I'm still the enemy. He thinks you're still alone."

Damian nodded slowly. "What do you need me to do?"

"Go back to your office. Act normal. Tell Peter everything. How scared you are. How you're losing the company. Let him think he's winning."

"And when Marcus makes his move?"

"Then we make ours."

Damian walked into his office at eight the next morning. Peter was already at his desk, coffee in hand.

"Good morning, sir. How was your meeting?"

Damian dropped into his chair. Rubbed his eyes. Let his shoulders slump. "Terrible. Sterling is squeezing me. The board is threatening a vote. I don't know how much longer I can hold on."

Peter's face was all sympathy. "I'm sorry, sir. Is there anything I can do?"

"Just keep the files organized. The lawyers will need everything."

"Of course."

Damian watched him walk out. Four years of loyalty that was never loyalty at all.

He texted Clara.

He bought it.

Her response came a minute later.

Don't get comfortable. Marcus will test you. Wait for it.

The test came that afternoon.

Peter knocked on his door. "Sir? There's a man here to see you. Marcus Vance."

Damian's blood went cold. "Send him in."

Marcus walked through the door—tall, grey-haired, impeccably dressed. He smiled like they were old friends.

"Damian. Good to see you."

"Marcus." Damian didn't offer his hand. "What do you want?"

"To talk. Man to man." Marcus sat without being invited. "I heard about your wife. Impressive, what she's doing. Buying up your debt. Cutting off your suppliers."

"Did you come here to gloat?"

"I came to help." Marcus leaned forward. "Clara Sterling is coming for both of us. She's buying up my debt too. She's trying to destroy us both."

"She's my wife."

"Ex-wife. And she's not the woman you married. She's something else now. Something dangerous." Marcus's voice was smooth. "I can make this go away. Buy the debt from Sterling. Protect your company. All you have to do is say yes."

Damian's hands clenched. He thought of Clara, alone in that hospital room. He thought of Peter, listening outside the door.

"What do you want in return?"

"Nothing yet. Just a conversation. Tomorrow night. My office. We'll discuss terms."

Damian nodded slowly. "Fine. Tomorrow night."

Marcus stood. "Good. And Damian? Bring Peter. He's been a good friend to you. He deserves to be in the room."

Marcus walked out. Peter stepped back into the office.

"Sir? What did he want?"

Damian looked at him. The man who had taken the hospital message. The man who had let Clara sit alone.

"Nothing important," he said. "Just a conversation."

Peter nodded. "Of course, sir."

Damian texted Clara the moment Peter left.

Marcus was here. Wants to meet tomorrow night. Told me to bring Peter.

Clara's response came fast.

He's testing you. Bringing Peter means he wants to see if you'll trust him. If you do, he'll move forward. If you don't, he'll suspect something.

What do I do?

Bring him. Let Marcus think you're falling for it. But wear a wire. I want every word.

Damian stared at the message. A wire. He was going to record Marcus Vance.

Done.

And Damian? Don't let Peter out of your sight. If he suspects anything, he'll warn Marcus before the meeting. This whole plan depends on Peter believing you're still in the dark.

Damian looked up. Peter was at his desk, typing. Calm. Efficient. The perfect assistant.

I won't let him out of my sight.

He put the phone down and went back to work. The clock was ticking.