Chapter 20
The absolute peace of the Vale estate was an elegant illusion maintained by constant, invisible vigilance. A year had passed since Tristan secured his throne, and the syndicate operated with a flawless, legitimate efficiency. The bright, cinematic sunlight poured through the towering windows of Audrey’s private office, illuminating the pristine white marble floors. She sat behind a heavy mahogany desk, her fair, rosy skin glowing with health and profound authority. She was reviewing the guest list for her massive philanthropic foundation's upcoming gala. The heavy oak doors clicked open, and Tristan stepped into the room. He remained as movie-star handsome as ever, his broad shoulders filling out a tailored dark charcoal suit. His thick, slightly wavy hair was swept back, and his cold, perceptive eyes softened instantly as they locked onto his wife. "The perimeter is secure, Audrey," Tristan murmured, his deep, low voice vibrating in the quiet room. "However, Marcus has flagged a late addition to your VIP list. A federal prosecutor named Elias Vance." Tristan looked up, his expressive brows drawing together. "He is aggressively subpoenaing our legitimate shell companies." Tristan walked slowly toward her, his tattooed hands resting on the edge of her desk. "Do you believe a man like Vance attends a gala without expecting to cause a scene?" "Vance’s background check cleared the federal databases," Audrey noted, swiping through the encrypted tablet on her desk. She looked up at her husband, completely unfazed by the potential danger. "But federal clearance is often just a very expensive lie." Tristan offered a rare, dark smile, immensely proud of the sharp, analytical mind his wife possessed. "It is the most expensive lie," Tristan agreed softly. "Let him attend the gala. We will welcome him into the light, and then we will show him exactly what lives in the shadows."
