Arthur picked up the property surrender agreement Rebecca had offered, his fingers brushing against the crisp paper. The sum of $800,000 was substantial, certainly enough to pay off his legal debts and secure a comfortable future. He scanned the fine print, his eyes catching on a subtle legal clause near the bottom. It explicitly released Apex Horizon LLC from all future tax liability related to the Pine Street property.
He looked up, meeting Rebecca’s gaze across the parlor. Her timid posture, the slightly downcast eyes, the trembling hands – they were all still there. But Arthur remembered the documents Chloe had shown him, the shell company linked to Harrison’s campaign treasurer address.
He reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a folded copy of the Delaware shell company registration for Apex Horizon LLC. He unfolded it deliberately, placing it on the table between them, next to the surrender agreement.
“Rebecca,” Arthur said, his voice slow and steady. “I recognize this signature.” He pointed to the signatory line: Rebecca Croft, Sole Manager.
Rebecca froze. Her eyes flickered from the document to Arthur’s face, a barely perceptible tremor running through her.
“You were never a victim, were you?” Arthur continued, leaning forward slightly. “You’re the sole manager of Apex Horizon. The mastermind. Harrison is just your public figurehead, isn’t he?”
The transformation was immediate. The timid posture evaporated. Her shoulders squared, her chin lifted. A cold, knowing smile spread across her lips.
“An old man with a weak heart,” Rebecca purred, her voice now devoid of its previous softness, “won’t survive a winter in court, Alderman. Consider your options very carefully.”
She stood, gathering her cloak, the air in the room suddenly heavy with a predatory chill. She swept out the back door, leaving Arthur alone in the parlor, the full scale of the deception now terrifyingly clear.
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