Chapter 6
The penthouse suite of the obsidian-glass high-rise was a world away from the suburban pretense of the Bennett estate. Here, high above the city, the lighting was natural but cool, filtering through massive windows that offered a god-like view of the metropolis.
Claire walked out of the private elevator, her presence commanding the immediate attention of the four executives waiting in the expansive living area. She looked every inch the movie star, but she carried the undeniable, terrifying authority of an apex predator.
Evan was fast asleep in the adjoining bedroom, his belly full of a massive chocolate milkshake and a towering burger, completely oblivious to the war his mother was waging.
Marcus, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a sharp American accent and a ruthless demeanor, stepped forward and handed Claire a sleek tablet.
"It’s done," Marcus said, his voice low and professional. "We initiated the asset freeze on the Bennett family’s primary accounts. The secondary holding companies are currently being liquidated."
"Did the bank raise any red flags?" Claire asked, swiping through the financial data, her eyes scanning the collapsing numbers with cold satisfaction.
"They tried," Marcus chuckled darkly. "Until I reminded the branch manager who holds the majority stake in their parent company. The Bennetts’ credit cards will begin declining within the next hour. Their corporate accounts are locked pending an 'audit' initiated by the majority shareholder."
"Which is me," Claire murmured, a slow, dangerous smile touching her lips.
"Which is you," Marcus confirmed. "Diane Bennett's entire life was built on a trust fund set up by her late husband. A trust fund that your late husband, her son, legally transferred control of to you before he died."
"He knew his mother was a monster," Claire said, handing the tablet back to Marcus. She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the city. "He begged me not to destroy her unless she forced my hand. He wanted to believe she could love Evan. That she could change."
"And today she forced your hand," Marcus noted.
"She slapped my son," Claire whispered, the memory causing a fresh surge of adrenaline to spike in her veins. "She hit a four-year-old boy over a piece of chicken. She humiliated him for sport."
Claire turned back to face her executives. The beautiful, submissive widow was entirely gone.
"I want the pressure applied slowly," Claire ordered, her voice ringing with absolute, devastating certainty. "I don't want them to realize they are bankrupt all at once. I want them to feel the panic setting in. I want them to stand at cash registers and be told their money is worthless."
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"And the estate?" an executive asked.
"Call in the mortgage tomorrow at noon," Claire instructed. "Send the eviction notices by courier. Let's see how long Diane Bennett's arrogance lasts when she has nowhere to sleep."
