Chapter 441
Chapter 441:
She had convinced herself, somewhere between the interview and the hallway, that he had come to offer her a position — that the world’s recognition had finally translated into professional opportunity. The reality of what he was actually saying took a moment to land.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” she said flatly.
“My colleagues and I restored that antler,” Victor said, his voice rising. “Every part of it. You have absolutely no right to tell the world you did p>
Elyse looked at him for a long moment. Then a slow, contemptuous smirk spread across her face. “So that’s what this is about.” She tilted her head slightly. “The world believes I repaired it. Go to the press. Tell them it was you. But understand something first — challenging me will cost you far more than you’re prepared to pay p>
Victor stared at her. “You’ve crossed a line,” he said, his voice dropping. His face had gone pale.
Elyse’s eyes moved over him with cold disdain. “Are we finished? If so, I’d like to go back to my interview.” She turned and walked back down the corridor without waiting for a response.
𝘋𝗈𝗐ո𝘭oаdа𝖻𝗹e 𝗣𝖣F𝘀 о𝗇 g𝘢𝗹𝗻o𝘷е𝘭s.со𝗆
Victor stood alone in the hallway, shaking with fury and completely powerless.
Because the contract was unambiguous. He had signed it. Every member of his team had signed it. The confidentiality clause was airtight — if any one of them spoke publicly, the financial penalties would fall on all of them collectively. The sum involved was ruinous. He couldn’t do it to his colleagues.
He was still standing there, turning over his impossible options, when the elevator at the end of the hall opened and Colton stepped out.
Victor’s expression went rigid. He dropped his gaze and moved to walk past without acknowledgment.
“Mr. Todd p>
Colton’s voice was not loud, but it carried the kind of weight that made moving past it feel like walking through a wall. Victor stopped despite himself.
He was puzzled. They had never met. How did Colton know his name?
“What do you want?” he asked, making no effort to soften the question.
He knew exactly who Colton was and exactly what this man had put Kristine through.
Colton didn’t react to the hostility. “I’ve been told Kristine is still alive,” he said. “Did you know p>
Victor’s jaw tightened. He remembered Kristine’s specific, urgent request — please don’t tell anyone I was there. He swallowed and kept his face carefully neutral. “Kristine is alive? I had no idea,” he said.
Colton looked away from him. “I see p>
Two words. Quiet, unreadable. And somehow more unsettling than anything louder would have been.
Victor left as quickly as he could without appearing to run.
Colton watched him go, and something cold and deliberate settled behind his eyes.
Back at the hotel, Kristine had been waiting for over an hour with no word from Asher. She picked up her phone and sent a short message: How is everything going?
No reply came.
She set the phone down and turned her attention to Davin, who had been stationed outside the door all evening without a break. She picked up the takeaway bag she had brought back and held it out to him.