Chapter 7 - Veronica Makes Her Offer
Elena found Veronica waiting outside Voss Tower just before midnight.
Security had already refused her entry twice.
When Elena stepped from the elevator, Veronica raised both hands.
“I’m not here to fight.”
“That would be a poor decision.”
“I need ten minutes.”
“You have thirty seconds.”
Veronica took a breath.
“Northstar belongs to me on paper.”
“I know.”
“But the money isn’t mine.”
“Twenty seconds.”
“Damian used it to move payments for Elias Grant.”
Elena stopped walking.
Veronica saw it.
“Now I have your attention.”
Elena turned toward security.
“Conference room three.”
Ten minutes later, Veronica placed the black notebook on the table.
Elena did not touch it.
“What is this?”
“Insurance.”
“Against Damian?”
“Against everyone.”
Elena opened the first page.
Dates.
Amounts.
Names.
She reached the page marked ELIAS GRANT.
Forty-two million dollars.
Her eyes lifted.
“Where did this money come from?”
“Acquisition reserves.”
“Impossible.”
“That’s what Damian thought.”
Veronica leaned forward.
“Elias taught him how to move it.”
Elena studied her.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because Damian is finished.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
Veronica’s jaw tightened.
“Because when powerful men fall, they don’t fall alone.”
“And you’re afraid he’ll take you with him.”
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised Elena.
Veronica continued.
“I signed things.”
“I transferred funds.”
“I lied.”
“I knew some of it was wrong.”
“But I didn’t know what Elias was really doing until three months ago.”
“What was he doing?”
Veronica pulled a flash drive from her handbag.
“He wasn’t stealing money to get rich.”
Elena took the drive.
“He was buying shares.”
“Through nominees.”
“Small percentages.”
“Different companies.”
“Different countries.”
“Always below disclosure thresholds.”
Elena’s face changed.
“How much does he control?”
“I don’t know.”
Veronica looked at her.
“But Damian estimated nearly eighteen percent.”
Elena’s voting block was forty-one percent.
Elias officially owned six.
If Veronica was right, he had secretly tripled his influence.
“Why?”
Veronica lowered her voice.
“He thinks Voss Global belongs to him.”
Elena closed the notebook.
“And what do you want in exchange?”
“Immunity.”
“I can’t promise criminal immunity.”
“Then protection.”
“From whom?”
Veronica’s eyes moved toward the dark glass windows.
“Elias.”
May you like
A sharp crack echoed from outside.
The window beside them shattered.
