Chapter 6 - Shadows in Austin
The rain began to lash against the floor-to-ceiling windows of my newly established corporate headquarters in downtown Austin’s sleek new Sky Tower. From the thirtieth floor, the city skyline looked vast, shimmering through the wet haze like a glittering circuit board.
Marcus Vance walked into my office, holding a tablet and a steaming cup of artisan black coffee, which he placed gently on my obsidian desk.
“CPS has officially placed the twins into protective foster care while they track down the biological father or maternal relatives,” Marcus said, leaning against the edge of the desk. “Leah’s international credit cards have been frozen in Cabo, and Mexican federal police are cooperating with our extradition request on charges of international wire fraud and corporate espionage.”
I didn't look up from the document I was reviewing. “And Margaret?”
“Margaret has locked herself inside her Westlake mansion, refusing calls from society friends and lawyers alike,” Marcus replied with a faint smirk. “The estate tax liens we filed are moving forward. By next week, the bank will foreclose on the mansion unless she can produce thirty million dollars in liquid capital—which we both know she doesn't have.”
I took a slow sip of coffee, letting the warmth spread through me. “Good. Every brick they stole from my father’s legacy is coming back to where it belongs.”
“There’s one more thing,” Marcus said, his tone turning cautious. “Apex Capital is panicking. Their stock dropped twenty-two percent today after our legal team publicly released the corporate espionage evidence linking their executive board to Leah’s infiltration of Rowan Meridian. Their CEO, Richard Vance—no relation to me, thankfully—is requesting an emergency arbitration meeting.”
I finally looked up, meeting Marcus’s eyes with a sharp, calculating smile. “Tell him I don't do arbitration. If he wants to talk, he can meet me in federal bankruptcy court.”
“Consider it done,” Marcus said, turning to leave before pausing at the door. “You know, Claire... watching you transform over these past few months has been extraordinary. Your father would be amazed.”
“My father taught me how to build an empire, Marcus,” I said softly, looking back out at the rainy Austin skyline. “Evan and Margaret taught me how to burn down the traitors who try to steal it.”
Later that evening, as the rain subsided and the Austin lights began to twinkle against the dark Texas night, my private security detail brought me an envelope left at the front desk downstairs. It wasn't from Evan, nor was it from Margaret.
It was a handwritten note on expensive stationery, bearing the crest of a Swiss banking conglomerate, along with a secure burner phone.
The note contained only two sentences:
*“The game in Texas is won, Claire. The global board awaits. Call me when you’re ready to take Zurich.”*
May you like
I stared at the phone as it lit up with an incoming encrypted call. The second phase of my life was about to begin.
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