Chapter 9
Following the trial, Chloe took an unannounced leave of absence to travel across the American Pacific Northwest. She needed time away from the glass towers, the boardrooms, and the endless paranoia of high-society cutthroats.
Driving a rented Jeep Wrangler along the rugged Oregon coastline, she felt the crisp ocean breeze wash over her face. Tall evergreen trees towered on one side, while crashing Pacific waves carved into the dramatic rocky cliffs below.
She checked into a quiet, secluded bed-and-breakfast nestled in a small, tight-knit American fishing village. The locals were warm, honest, and entirely disconnected from the toxic corporate drama of Wall Street.
Walking along the pebbled beach at sunset, she watched an American flag flying proudly outside a Coast Guard station. For the first time in years, her breathing was calm, slow, and completely devoid of defensive tension.
She realized that true strength wasn't just about destroying enemies in a boardroom; it was finding inner peace. Yet, her corporate instincts remained razor-sharp, picking up subtle details in her quiet surroundings.
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She noticed a sleek black SUV parked near the cliff overlook, its engine idling without any passengers visible inside. A chill ran down her spine as she recognized the exact make, model, and tinted windows of Sterling's private detail.
Someone from Arthur's syndicate had tracked her all the way across the American continent to finish what Beatrice started.
