Chapter 10 - The Threat On The Stoop
Miller took another step closer, his broad frame blocking the path to the street, his expression grim and professional.
"Look, Miss Miller, I'm just the messenger here," Miller said, his voice dropping into a quiet, persuasive tone.
"Harrison Vance is a man who doesn't like to lose."
"He knows your younger brother, Toby, attends a specialized residential academy in upstate New York."
"An academy that receives significant annual funding from a corporate trust managed by Vance Enterprises."
Clara felt a sudden, sharp coldness spike through her veins, her knuckles turning white around her bag strap.
Targeting her was one thing, but bringing her younger brother into Harrison's petty revenge scheme crossed a line into war.
"Are you threatening my family's educational funding, Mr. Miller?" Clara asked, her voice dropping an octave into pure steel.
Miller pulled a crisp white envelope from his inner jacket pocket, holding it out toward her.
"Mr. Vance is offering a fifty-thousand-dollar educational grant directly to your brother's school," Miller explained smoothly.
"In exchange, you sign a standard non-disclosure agreement, resign from Eleanor's foundation, and publicly retract your statement to the press."
Clara looked at the white envelope, then raised her eyes to lock directly onto Miller's gaze.
She reached out, took the envelope, and slowly tore it in half, letting the paper pieces fall onto the wet sidewalk at his feet.
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"Tell Harrison Vance that he can't buy my brother, he can't buy his son, and he certainly can't buy me," Clara said clearly.
She turned on her heel, unlocked her front door, and stepped inside, slamming the heavy iron stoop door behind her.
