Chapter 4 - THE BROTHER IN THE ELEVATOR
Julian Vale had spent his entire life standing in Adrian’s shadow.
Adrian built companies.
Julian attended parties celebrating them.
Adrian appeared on magazine covers.
Julian appeared in photographs behind him.
Their father had trusted Adrian with the business and Julian with nothing more dangerous than a monthly allowance.
When Julian answered Adrian’s call from the Ardent Hotel, music thundered in the background.
“You finally remembered I exist.”
“Are you with Damien Cross?”
The music became quieter.
Julian had moved away from the party.
“Why?”
“Answer me.”
Julian laughed.
“You still talk to everyone like they work for you.”
“Damien stole something from my house.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“Then why are you meeting him?”
Julian remained silent.
Adrian looked at Marcus.
Marcus was already tracing the call.
“Celeste has been detained,” Adrian said.
“What did she do?”
“She framed Elena for stealing Dad’s Rolex.”
Julian’s voice hardened.
“Who is Elena?”
“My daughter’s nanny.”
“You called me about a nanny?”
“I called because the encryption key is missing.”
The line went quiet.
When Julian spoke again, the arrogance had vanished.
“That key was still in the safe?”
“Where are you?”
Julian ended the call.
Marcus pointed toward the laptop.
“His phone is moving.”
“They are leaving the hotel.”
Adrian called federal investigator Rebecca Sloan.
The missing drive was connected to an ongoing investigation into illegal surveillance technology.
Vale Technologies had discovered that a prototype program called MirrorSight had been secretly copied from its development server.
MirrorSight could identify people through live security feeds and combine their movements with private financial, medical, and location data.
Adrian had shut the project down when he learned what it could become.
Someone inside the company had continued developing it.
The stolen encryption key could unlock the evidence Adrian had collected.
It could also unlock the remaining prototype.
Rebecca instructed him not to pursue Damien.
Adrian ignored that instruction.
He ordered a helicopter prepared.
Elena overheard him from the hallway.
“You’re leaving Sophie?”
“She will be protected.”
“She needs her father.”
Adrian stopped.
Elena rarely challenged him.
Tonight, she did not lower her eyes.
“She watched your wife shove me.”
“She watched the police take her stepmother away.”
“And now she is being sent to another house while you chase the people responsible.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“What would you have me do?”
“Sit beside her for five minutes.”
The simplicity of the answer seemed to surprise him.
Adrian entered the library where Sophie waited.
She sat on the leather sofa with her knees pulled against her chest.
He sat beside her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Sophie asked the question he had feared.
“Did Celeste marry you because she loved us?”
Adrian looked toward the floor.
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t think she likes me.”
Adrian’s voice broke slightly.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She said you would send Elena away if I made trouble.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Celeste had not only manipulated his staff.
She had been frightening his daughter in his own home.
Sophie leaned against him.
He held her tightly.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Marcus had sent one line.
JULIAN’S CAR WAS FOUND ABANDONED.
There was no sign of Julian.
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On the passenger seat, police found a single gold cuff link.
It belonged to Adrian.
