Chapter 8 - THE BLACKMAIL TAPES
An hour after posting bail, Victoria stepped out of the courthouse surrounded by a team of private security guards provided by Marcus Cole.
She slipped into the tinted rear seat of a black Maybach waiting at the curb, where Marcus Cole sat sipping aged bourbon.
"You almost ruined everything with your stupid temper, Victoria," Marcus said coldly, not even glancing at her.
"I had to establish dominance over that brat!" Victoria snapped, adjusting her dark sunglasses to hide her tired eyes. "Did you secure the files from Julian's private home server while the police were searching the estate?"
Marcus held up a black encrypted flash drive, swirling the ice cubes inside his crystal tumbler.
"Every financial secret Sterling Financial owns is right here," Marcus chuckled darkly. "Julian thinks he's playing chess, but we just stole his king."
Meanwhile, back at Sterling Manor, Mrs. Gable approached Julian in his private library with a heavy heart.
She produced a small cassette tape recorder hidden inside her apron pocket, placing it gently on the mahogany desk.
"Mr. Sterling, I recorded Miss Victoria three weeks ago when she didn't know I was in the pantry," Mrs. Gable confessed.
Julian pressed play, and Victoria's recorded voice filled the quiet room with chilling clarity.
May you like
"Once I marry Julian and clear out that annoying kid, Marcus and I will split Sterling Financial fifty-fifty," Victoria's voice sneered through the speaker.
***
