Chapter 13 - The Trap of Glass
Z
The Charity Gala at the Grand Hotel Dolder in Zurich was the most anticipated event of the social season. Beneath the shimmering chandeliers and amidst the champagne-soaked air, Sarah Vance stood as the guest of honor, representing the Vance-Sterling Foundation. She was dressed in an emerald gown that clung to her frame, her composure flawless.
Her security detail—eight men disguised as waiters and security staff—moved seamlessly through the crowd, their earpieces silent, their eyes scanning every guest.
Detective Miller, who had resigned from the force to become Sarah’s head of security, stood by the entrance, his gaze locked on a man in a charcoal suit standing by the bar.
“Subject identified,” Miller whispered into Sarah’s earpiece. “The man at 2 o’clock. He’s scanning the donor list on a handheld device. He’s the one from Lumina.”
Sarah didn't look at him. She smiled at a donor, accepted a glass of champagne, and began to weave through the crowd, moving toward the terrace. She was the bait.
As she stepped out into the cool night air, the ambient noise of the party faded. The terrace was deserted, save for a single figure standing at the railing, looking out over the city lights.
"It’s a beautiful view, isn't it?" Sarah said, her voice composed.
The man turned. He was middle-aged, with sharp features and cold, calculating eyes. He didn't look like a mercenary; he looked like a banker.
"Ms. Vance," he said, bowing slightly. "Your work with the foundation is truly remarkable. It’s rare to see someone turn such personal tragedy into such public good."
"And it's rare to see a shell corporation like Lumina Strategic suddenly taking such an interest in medical prosthetics," Sarah replied, stepping closer. "Why are you tracking my board members, Mr. Thorne?"
Thorne smiled, but the expression didn't reach his eyes. "You assume I’m the predator, Sarah. But you should know by now that in this world, there is no such thing as a clean slate. Your foundation is built on the ruins of the Apex Syndicate. Did you really think they wouldn't want their ‘investments’ returned?"
"I don't have their money," Sarah said.
"No," Thorne agreed, reaching into his jacket. "You have their secrets. And their shareholders are very, very impatient."
He pulled out a small, metallic device and placed it on the terrace table. "This is a key. It decrypts the internal ledger of the Apex remnant. You have forty-eight hours to provide us with the location of the offshore account where you moved the liquidated assets. If not, the school your boys attend will be our next stop."
Sarah looked at the device, then back at Thorne. She didn't look scared. She looked disappointed.
"You should have done your research, Thorne," she said softly.
May you like
Suddenly, the terrace doors swung open. Miller and four of his tactical team swarmed the area, their weapons drawn, surrounding Thorne before he could even blink.
"The terrace is bugged, the perimeter is locked down, and the Zurich police are currently raiding your company headquarters," Sarah stated, her voice icy. "You didn't trap me, Mr. Thorne. You just handed me the key to finish what I started."
