Chapter 4 - The Ghost in the System
Marcus Thorne lived in a high-rise in Manhattan, a building that was way beyond his pay grade. Avery watched from the shadows of an alleyway, her eyes fixed on the entrance. She had been waiting for two hours, watching the comings and goings of the residents.
Finally, he appeared. He looked nervous, constantly checking his phone and looking over his shoulder. Avery waited until he reached his car, then stepped out from the shadows, her presence looming over him.
“Marcus,” she said, her voice a low, chilling whisper.
He jumped, his face turning pale. “Avery? What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here. The Sterlings—”
“Don’t talk to me about the Sterlings,” she interrupted, stepping closer. “I know what you did, Marcus. I know about the accounts. I know about the fake bank transfers.”
He stumbled back, his hands shaking. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just an employee. I do what I’m told.”
“And who told you to destroy my life?” she asked, her voice calm and steady. “Was it Victoria? Was it Liam? Or were they both involved?”
“I can’t tell you,” he stammered, his eyes darting around. “If I talk, they’ll kill me. You don’t know what they’re capable of.”
Avery leaned in close, her eyes burning with a cold, unrelenting fire. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll make sure you lose everything. I’ll expose every secret, every corrupt deal, and every illegal transaction you’ve ever been involved in. You’ll be ruined, Marcus. Is that what you want?”
He looked at her, his face a mask of terror. He knew she was serious. He knew she had the power to destroy him. “They’re planning something else,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “They’re not just after you. They’re after your father’s land in the valley. They’ve been trying to acquire it for years, and now that you’re out of the picture, they’re going to seize it by any means necessary.”
Avery’s heart froze. Her father’s land. It was the only thing she had left of him. “Why?”
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“I don’t know,” he said, backing away. “Please, just leave me alone.”
He scrambled into his car and sped off, leaving Avery standing in the cold, her mind reeling. The Sterlings weren’t just taking her life; they were erasing her history.
