Chapter 5

By two in the afternoon, the reception area of Kane Consulting was packed.

The property team brought formal expiration notices. The new tenant's representative brought a letter of intent. Dominic's associate brought the first legal demand.

The envelope was thick enough to make the receptionist's wrist dip when she accepted it.

Julian didn’t come out. He locked himself in his office and made one call after another. Banks, investors, board members, clients, former classmates, men who owed him drinks but not rescue. Each call went into the ocean and came back with nothing.

Clara was shoved forward to handle the mess she had made.

She stood near reception, voice shaking. "This must be a misunderstanding. This floor has always been our operating premises. Forcing us out like this would affect hundreds of employees' livelihoods."

Dominic's associate smiled with lethal courtesy. "Miss West, a lease ending on its stated expiration date is not a misunderstanding. The Moretti Trust sent reminder notices thirty days in advance. Delivery was confirmed to the administrative mailbox and to Mr. Kane personally."

Clara's mouth worked, but no useful sound came out.

The new tenant representative, a blonde woman from a distressed-asset fund, looked around the office with mild interest. "Natural light is good. We can accept delivery tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow?" the administrative manager almost shrieked. "We have files, servers, furniture. We cannot move by tomorrow."

"That sounds like your problem." The blonde woman turned to Dominic's associate. "Double holdover rent is clear in the contract, right?"

"Very clear."

Everyone in the office heard it.

Double rent. On the thirty-ninth floor of Seventh Avenue, at current market rate, one day of double rent was enough to give any finance director insomnia.

The whispers started immediately.

"I thought Alia was the one taking advantage of the company. How is the office hers?"

"The Raven Club was hers, the clients were hers, the building is hers. What exactly does the company own?"

"Did Clara just blow up the whole place?"

Those whispers cut small and deep. Clara tried to retreat into the office, but people blocked her path.

"You said you had verified everything."

"You said she was abusing resources."

"Now the clients are leaving, the landlord is here, and legal is asking for damages. Who is responsible?"

Tears filled Clara's eyes. She had finally tasted what it felt like to be tried in public by people who wanted a quick villain.

I watched from a car across the street.

Julian's name flashed on my phone again and again. I ignored it until his fifth call turned into a text.

[Alessia, we need to talk.]

I answered: [Talk to my lawyer.]

A second message came almost instantly.

[Are you really going to destroy the company?]

I laughed before I could help myself.

They always did this. When they humiliated you, it was policy. When they took from you, it was for the greater good. When you took back what belonged to you, suddenly you were the one destroying lives.

Outside my window, low gray clouds pressed down on Manhattan's glass towers. I messaged Dominic.

[Send the second one.]

Three minutes later, Julian received the second legal demand.

It listed unauthorized possession of a private membership card, misuse of the Moretti family club account, attempted transfer and conversion of personal client relationships, defamation through false internal communication, and a demand that Kane Consulting and Clara West issue a public correction within forty-eight hours or face further action.

Clara read the summary and nearly folded to the floor.

That was when Julian finally stormed out of his office.

He saw my car through the glass doors and came down like a man climbing out of a grave. I lowered the window when he reached me.

His voice was low and tight. "Alessia, how much money do you want?"

"Money?"

"Do not play games. Give me a number."

"Julian, you still do not understand. I am not here to negotiate a price."

A flash of anger crossed his face. "Then what do you want? You want me on my knees?"

I raised the window halfway.

"Do not rush. That part comes later."

For the first time, fear beat anger in his eyes.

I told the driver to pull away.

Behind us, the building that once made Kane Consulting look untouchable stood exactly where it had always stood. The difference was simple. For five years, Julian had mistaken borrowed marble for his own spine.

Now I was taking the marble back.