Chapter 6 - The Terms of Engagement
The office of Vance & Associates overlooked the River Thames,
the gray water churning below.
Marcus Vance sat behind a massive mahogany desk,
his sharp eyes reviewing the stack of documents before him.
I sat opposite him,
sipping a hot cup of tea,
feeling the warmth return to my hands.
"You've caused quite a stir,
Clara,"
Marcus said,
a rare smile touching his lips.
"The public reaction has given us a massive advantage."
"I didn't do it for the public,"
I whispered,
looking down at the dark liquid in my cup.
"I did it so he couldn't lie his way out of it."
"And he can't,"
Marcus agreed,
tapping the papers.
"We have the financial records showing he used corporate funds to buy Felicity's apartment.
We have the security footage,
the medical records,
and your own testimony.
In a British court,
given his conduct,
you are entitled to half of his European assets."
"I don't want his money,
Marcus,"
I said firmly,
looking up to meet his gaze.
"I want my freedom,
and I want the Sterling family heirlooms back.
He locked them in his private safe in Boston."
Marcus leaned forward,
his expression turning serious.
"Gideon won't give them up easily.
Those heirlooms are his leverage to force you back to the table.
He's already trying to clear a private flight to London despite the storm.
He will be here by tomorrow morning."
The news didn't surprise me.
Gideon was a predator;
he couldn't stand losing control.
He would come here expecting the broken woman he left behind.
"Let him come,"
I said,
my voice hardening.
"I am not afraid of him anymore."
"Good,"
Marcus said,
sliding a document across the desk.
"Sign this.
It's a formal restraining order and a freeze on all joint accounts.
By the time he lands,
he won't even be able to use his corporate credit card."
I took the pen,
my hand steady as I signed my name.
May you like
Each stroke felt like a brick being laid in the wall between my past and my future.
The battle was officially joined.
