Chapter 21
A rainy Paris night, Kieran was curled up on the bed of a shitty motel in the Saint–Denis district.[]
The wallpaper was peeling and moldy, the sheets stained with God knows what, and neon signs outside cast shifting colors through the grimy window onto his pale face.
His phone lit up on the nightstand–the fifteenth debt collection text.[]
“48 hours to pay up or you’re fucking dead.”
He grabbed the half–empty whiskey bottle with shaking hands, the cheap alcohol burning his throat as the TV droned international news:[]
[American national Aurora Jameson arrested in Switzerland on charges of international fraud and money laundering, involving 230 million euros…]]]
The screen cut to Geneva police headquarters, showing Aurora in handcuffs, her once–perfect hair now a ratted mess.
When reporters asked about the missing funds, she suddenly screamed at the camera: “Kieran Harper made me do it! All that project money went through his accounts!“]
“Crash.”
The bottle slipped from Kieran’s hands, amber liquid soaking into the carpet as he stared at that twisted face on screen, remembering their final
confrontation three months ago.]]
“If I go down, Harper Industries burns with me!“]
And she’d actually pulled it off.[]
His phone buzzed with a bank email: “Your Harper Industries shares have entered liquidation proceedings.“[]
That meant the century–old Harper empire was officially dead.[]
Heavy pounding echoed from the door.
“We know you’re in there, Harper!” Heavily accented threats mixed with the door–banging. “Open up or we’ll burn this shithole down!“]]
Kieran staggered to his feet, the reflection in the mirror making him freeze.[]
Sunken eyes, streaks of gray in his hair, his once ten–thousand–dollar custom suit now reeking of sweat and desperation.
Was this really the hotshot CEO who used to run Manhattan?]
“CRASH“-the window suddenly shattered, and a Molotov cocktail flew in, flames immediately devouring the curtains.[]
Kieran grabbed his jacket and bolted out the door, running straight into the debt collectors in the hallway.[]
The lead thug grabbed him by the collar: “Done running, asshole?“]
Several men slammed him against the wall, a cold blade pressed to his throat.[]
“Boss is giving you one last chance.” The man’s breath reeked of alcohol. “Word is you used to spoil that Aurora bitch. Here’s the deal–get back all the money you gave her, hand it over to us, and maybe we’ll let you live.“]]
Kieran suddenly started laughing, the sound raw and broken: []
“I’m looking for that whore too… why don’t you try the Geneva jail? Because I’ve already given you every fucking cent I have.“[]
The blade bit deeper into his skin, warm blood trickling down.
Just as he thought he was going to die in this filthy motel, police sirens wailed in the distance.
Chapter 21
“Shit, told you assholes not to make this much noise!” The thugs cursed and bolted.[]
Kieran slid down the wall, covering his face as laughter turned to sobs.[]
“I was wrong… I was so fucking wrong…”
Same day – Geneva Women’s Prison[]
Aurora huddled in the corner of the visiting room, her face bare of makeup for the first time in years.
When the guard informed her that no one was willing to hire a lawyer for her, she suddenly exploded, throwing water at the security camera.]]
“Do you idiots know who I am? I’m going to be the Harper Industries heiress!” Her screams echoed off the concrete walls.
“When I get out… when I get out I’ll destroy all of y
you!”
The guard injected her with a sedative without expression.[]
As consciousness faded, Aurora caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.[]
Hair dry as straw, eyes shot through with red veins, hollow cheeks, gray skin, her expensive silk dress long since replaced by orange prison scrubs.]
Was this really her? The elegant goddess who’d once driven Kieran crazy?]
The iron door slammed shut, darkness swallowing all her desperate whimpers.
