Chapter 2 - The Threat at the Gate
By 8:00 AM the next morning, the private elevator outside the penthouse chimed.
Marcus, Elias's head of security, stepped into the living room, carrying a leather tablet.
"Mr. Vance," Marcus reported in a quiet, measured voice. "Richard Miller is standing in the lobby downstairs. He brought two tabloid reporters with him."
I sat on the sofa in a soft sweater Elias's housekeeper had provided, holding both of my daughters against my chest. Hearing Richard's name made my heart hammer against my ribs like a trapped bird.
"What does he want, Marcus?" Elias asked without looking up from his coffee.
"He's demanding five million dollars," Marcus replied flatly. "Or he claims he will file kidnapping charges with the NYPD and tell the press that you held his wife hostage."
Elias set his teacup down on the glass table with a soft, precise click.
"Have the building security hold the reporters in the lobby," Elias ordered calmly. "Bring Richard up here. Alone."
"Elias, no!" I gasped, leaning forward in panic. "You don't know what he's like. He's cruel. He'll try to hurt us—"
Elias walked over and knelt down in front of me. He placed a large, warm hand gently over mine, grounding my frantic nerves.
"He will never lay a finger on you again, Ava," Elias said, his voice dropping into a steady, comforting rhythm. "In my house, you are untouchable."
Five minutes later, the private elevator doors slid open.
Richard Miller stepped into the sprawling penthouse. He was thirty-two, wearing an expensive leather jacket that couldn't hide the arrogant sneer on his face. But as he looked around at the towering marble pillars, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and modern artwork, a flicker of envy flashed across his eyes.
Then his eyes fell on me—and the two babies in my arms.
"Look at you," Richard spat, taking a step forward. "Living in luxury while I'm dealing with the mess you left behind! You think because you ran to a billionaire, you can just ignore your duties as my wife?"
Before Richard could take another step, Marcus moved like a shadow, placing a broad shoulder directly in his path.
"Speak quietly in this room," Marcus warned sharply.
Elias stood up slowly, tall and formidable, walking over to stand beside Marcus.
"You have two minutes, Mr. Miller," Elias said coldly.
Richard tried to puff out his chest, pointing an accusing finger at Elias. "I know how this city works, Vance! You took my legal wife and my kids off the street. The media will eat this alive! Give me five million, or I go to the police right now!"
Elias didn't flinch. Instead, he pulled a blue legal folder from his inner coat pocket and tossed it onto the glass coffee table between them.
"Open it," Elias commanded.
Richard frowned, picking up the folder. As he flipped through the first three pages, the color completely drained from his face.
"What... what is this?" Richard stammered, his voice losing its arrogant edge.
"That is a complete financial audit of your logistics company," Elias explained smoothly. "Along with three years of tax evasion records, illegal kickbacks from dock workers, and video evidence of your associates dumping toxic waste in the East River."
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Richard stared at the papers, trembling. "Where did you get this?"
"I own the bank that holds your company's mortgage, Richard," Elias smiled, a cold, predatory glint in his eyes. "I bought your debt twenty minutes ago. If you speak to the press, if you go to the police, or if you ever step within fifty feet of Ava again, I will foreclose on your firm and hand those documents to the FBI before noon."
