Chapter 4
By midnight, the grand ballroom was completely cleared of guests under strict non-disclosure agreements.
Outside the gates of the Sterling mansion, news vans and paparazzi began gathering under the flashing streetlights.
Inside the third-floor penthouse study, Julian sat tied to a heavy leather chair, his suit jacket removed.
Edward stood by the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the rainy Manhattan skyline, sipping a glass of scotch.
"Your father-in-law Senator Montgomery called me five minutes ago," Edward remarked without turning around.
"He offered me ten percent of his defense tech company to sweep this entire incident under the rug."
Julian swallowed hard, his throat dry as bone as he stared at the back of Edward’s navy tuxedo.
"What... what did you tell him, sir?" Julian asked in a trembling whisper.
Edward turned slowly, his silver hair reflecting the cold blue light of the storm outside.
"I told him that I am buying his company tomorrow at a ninety percent discount," Edward stated coldly.
"And if he refuses, the photos of Elena's back will be on the front page of the New York Times by morning."
Julian closed his eyes, fresh tears leaking down his bruised, exhausted face.
"Chloe is insane, Edward... she told me Elena discovered the offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands," Julian confessed.
"She said if we didn't silence Elena, we would both spend thirty years in federal prison."
Edward walked over to the desk, leaning down until his cold blue eyes were inches from Julian’s face.
"And you thought beating a defenseless woman was better than serving time?" Edward whispered dangerously.
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"No, sir... I was terrified," Julian whimpered patheticly.
"Then you should be far more terrified of me," Edward replied softly.
