Chapter 7
The afternoon sun hit the cast-iron facades of Soho, casting long, sharp shadows across the cobblestone street.
Corinna stood on the sidewalk, holding a rolled-up architectural floor plan. She looked up at the wide glass windows of an empty commercial space.
"The natural light here is perfect for a showroom," Corinna said. Her eyes were bright, mapping out display cases in her mind.
Zane walked up beside her. He handed her a plastic cup of iced Americano.
"It is expensive, but with the money you made from the auction, we can cover the first six months of rent," Zane said.
A dry, brown leaf drifted down from the tree above them and landed on Corinna's shoulder. Zane casually reached over and brushed it off.
It was a completely innocent, fleeting touch.
Half a block away, parked illegally next to a fire hydrant, sat a black SUV with heavily tinted windows.
Inside, Alex sat in the driver's seat. He held a camera with a massive telephoto lens. He pressed the shutter button. The camera clicked rapidly, capturing the exact moment Zane's hand touched Corinna's shoulder.
Alex immediately synced the camera to his phone and hit send.
Three miles away, in a glass-walled conference room at the Warner Group, Holland sat at the head of a massive oak table.
He was in the middle of a hostile takeover negotiation. The room was dead silent as the opposing CEO sweated through his suit.
Holland's phone buzzed against the wood. The screen lit up.
He glanced down. The thumbnail image loaded.
Holland saw Zane's hand on Corinna's shoulder. He saw the relaxed, comfortable way she stood next to him.
The temperature in the conference room seemed to plummet ten degrees.
Holland's jaw clenched so hard his teeth ground together. The muscles in his neck jumped. His pupils contracted sharply. He placed his phone face down on the polished wood with terrifying precision. The opposing CEO stammered, trying to continue his pitch, sweating under the sudden, suffocating pressure radiating from the head of the table. Holland raised a single hand, his fingers completely rigid. "Pause," Holland said, his voice dropping to a freezing, dead calm. "Ten minutes." He stood up slowly, his movements perfectly controlled, but his knuckles were stark white. He did not look at the executives. He walked out of the room with measured, heavy footsteps, locking his blind, murderous rage entirely behind his ribs until the glass doors sealed shut behind him.
He walked into a private alcove and hit dial.
"Alex," Holland barked, his voice vibrating with raw fury. "Find out who owns the building they are standing in front of. Double whatever rent they are offering. I want that space off the market in five minutes."
Back in Soho, Corinna took a sip of her coffee. She turned to the real estate broker standing next to them.
"We will take it," Corinna said.
The broker beamed. He pulled a thick lease agreement from his leather briefcase and handed her a silver pen.
Corinna uncapped the pen. She pressed the tip to the signature line.
The broker's phone suddenly erupted in a loud, obnoxious ringtone. He held up a finger, apologizing, and answered it.
Corinna watched the broker's face. In less than ten seconds, the man's fake tan seemed to drain away, leaving him pale and sweating.
"Yes. Yes, understood," the broker squeaked. He hung up the phone.
He reached out and physically snatched the contract out from under Corinna's pen.
"I am so sorry," the broker stammered, refusing to make eye contact. "The owner just pulled the listing. It is no longer available."
Corinna frowned. "I can offer twenty percent above the asking price."
The broker shook his head rapidly. He backed away. "It is not about the money, miss. You... you pissed off someone who owns half this city. I cannot do business with you."
The broker turned and practically ran down the street.
Corinna stood frozen. The paper cup in her hand crinkled as her grip tightened.
She knew exactly who owned half the city.
Zane kicked a trash can on the sidewalk. "Is this Warner? I will call my uncle. We can fight this legally."
"No," Corinna said sharply. "Do not drag your family into this. You cannot fight his capital with lawyers. He will bury you in injunctions for years."
She closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, pulling the cold city air into her lungs.
When she opened her eyes, the last trace of fear was gone. She was backed into a corner, and the only way out was through him.
She pulled her phone from her pocket. She dialed Holland's number.
He answered on the first ring.
"Did you enjoy the walk in Soho?" Holland asked. His voice was smooth, dripping with arrogant satisfaction. "Are you ready to stop playing this ridiculous game and come home?"
Corinna let out a short, hollow laugh.
"Thirty minutes," Corinna said, her voice like cracking ice. "Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. Show up, or I swear to God, I will make you regret it."
She hung up before he could say another word.
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