Chapter 17
I stared at my father, feeling a cold, hollow emptiness settle deep within my chest.
There was no love in his eyes, no remorse, no fatherly warmth.
To him, I was never a daughter, never a partner, never a human being.
I was simply the most elegant corporate instrument he had ever designed.
Charlotte stepped out from behind Marcus, pulling her service pistol and pointing it directly at Arthur’s head.
“It’s over, Dad,” Charlotte said, her hand steady on the grip. “I have a federal warrant for your arrest.”
Arthur looked at Charlotte, a dry, sad chuckle escaping his lips.
“Charlotte… my little federal agent,” Arthur mocked softly.
“You really think you can arrest me in my own building?”
Arthur pressed a small red button hidden beneath the edge of the server console.
Instantly, the heavy iron security shutters slammed down over the server room door, locking us inside.
From the dark corners of the server racks, four men in unmarked black uniforms stepped out, weapons drawn.
“Did you really think I came to the server room alone?” Arthur asked, standing up from his leather chair.
“This facility has seventeen private escape routes that don't exist on your blueprints, Amelia.”
“I built them while you were still in board school.”
Arthur walked over to a secondary wall panel, sliding a hidden keycard through a brass slot.
A section of the server rack swung outward like a door, revealing a lit elevator cab behind it.
May you like
“Goodbye, my daughters,” Arthur said, stepping backward into the elevator cab.
“Enjoy the federal investigation. I’ve made sure your names are on every single file.”
