Chapter 3 - The Auditor’s Verdict
Morning sunlight cut sharp geometric patterns across the mahogany desk in Dominic’s private study, illuminating stacks of encrypted financial folders that Leo had delivered before dawn. Claraara sat in the high-backed leather chair, her reading glasses sliding down the bridge of her nose as she cross-referenced wire transfers with public asset declarations.
The digital footprint was remarkably sloppy for a federal judge’s daughter. Victoria had funneled syndicate documents through a shell company registered in the Cayman Islands five years ago, using funds that could now be traced directly back to her personal Parisian accounts.
“She thought she was untouchable because her father controlled the local magistrate,” Claraara murmured to herself, tapping a stylus against the glass screen of her tablet.
The heavy oak door creaked open, and Dominic walked in carrying a silver tray with two cups of black coffee and a plate of toasted brioche. He set it quietly on the edge of the desk, leaning his hip against the wood to observe her with quiet admiration.
“You haven't slept,” he noted, his voice carrying a gentle reproach.
“Neither have you,” Claraara replied without looking up from her spreadsheets. “And neither has Judge Montgomery, if these municipal filing timestamps are accurate. He’s trying to scrub the property deeds associated with Victoria’s shell corporation before your legal team can slap an injunction on them.”
Dominic picked up his coffee cup, blowing lightly across the steaming surface.
“Let him try. By noon, those properties will belong to the Russo Foundation through a standard corporate lien. Every asset they used to buy their social standing will be liquidated to pay for the charities Victoria tried to insult last night.”
Claraara finally looked up, her full lips curving into a slow, knowing smile.
“You're enjoying this far too much.”
“I enjoy seeing justice executed by someone who actually understands the math,” Dominic countered, his dark eyes softening as he handed her the second cup of coffee. His fingers brushed hers deliberately, lingering for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. “When we signed our contract, Claraara, I promised you protection. I didn't expect you to become the anchor that keeps me from tearing this city apart.”
The air in the study shifted, growing suddenly thick with an unspoken intimacy that had been building beneath the surface of their professional arrangement for months. Claraara felt the familiar heat rise in her cheeks, her body responding to his proximity despite every logical warning in her mind.
Before she could form a reply, the private phone on the desk buzzed shrilly. Leo Navaro was on the line, his voice tight with an urgency that broke the spell.
May you like
“Boss, we have a visitor at the front gate,” Leo said without preamble. “It’s not the judge. It’s Victoria, and she’s alone.”
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