Chapter 8
428words
In the pandemonium, no one noticed as I slipped away through a service entrance.
Nathaniel waited in the car, grinning as he showed me his phone—he'd tipped off every major news outlet in the city.
By nightfall, the Sinclairs would be trending again—this time with no possibility of damage control.
"What's our next play, Mr. Sinclair?"
I noticed we were heading away from the city, and a stack of legal documents sat between us.
He smiled enigmatically, snapping his fingers toward the marriage certificate I'd grabbed during my escape.
"Sister-in-law, the best time to strike is during chaos! We have one more card to play."
I frowned, examining the documents more carefully.
They appeared to be from Victor's private safe—contracts I'd discovered during my search of his room.
Understanding dawned as I met Nathaniel's conspiratorial gaze.
"You're not suggesting we use this opportunity to..."
He flashed an OK sign and nodded emphatically.
"Sister-in-law, your brilliance continues to impress!"
After a moment's hesitation, my lips curved into a matching smile.
A brilliant idea, indeed.
Twenty minutes later, we entered a private room at an exclusive club.
"We have a reservation—Sinclair party."
The host escorted us to an ultra-private suite where a sharp-eyed man in his fifties awaited.
Recognition flickered across his face when he saw Nathaniel.
When his gaze shifted to me, confusion replaced recognition.
"And you are...?"
Before Nathaniel could speak, I placed the marriage certificate on the table.
The document clearly showed Victor Sinclair and me as legally wed.
Nathaniel smiled smoothly and gestured toward me.
"Mr. Pierce, as you're aware, my brother's recent... difficulties... have created a leadership vacuum. I'm simply assisting the family during this transition..."
He let the implication hang in the air.
Pierce studied us carefully before his face relaxed into a knowing smile.
"Say no more. I understand perfectly. The Sinclair torch passes to new hands. I've always prided myself on recognizing shifting winds."
Thirty minutes later, the transfer was complete, but I remained confused. Pierce clearly believed we were executing a family coup, with me as the grieving widow providing legitimacy.
Yet Nathaniel's demeanor suggested something entirely different.
I resolved to question him, but he was already whisking me to another meeting.
"Patience, sister-in-law. Let's complete our business first!"
As we moved through more meetings, I noticed something disturbing about the transactions.
"Nathaniel, these are black market operations. What exactly are you doing?"
I whispered urgently, my finger hovering over the emergency call button on my phone.
