Chapter 15 - The Choice Richard Never Expected
“Come in alone,” Richard ordered.
Arthur entered the boardroom with his hands raised.
Elena lifted her head.
“Don’t give him anything.”
Richard pressed the syringe closer.
“She is brave now. A little late, but brave.”
Arthur placed the metal box on the table.
“Let her go.”
“Open the trust.”
Arthur did.
Richard scanned the amendment.
It confirmed that Leo’s birth had permanently removed Margaret as successor trustee. Arthur had assumed full control the moment Leo was born alive.
The document also ordered an immediate forensic audit of all company transactions authorized by Richard.
Charles had suspected him.
Richard laughed bitterly.
“The old man never trusted me.”
“He was right.”
Richard turned the laptop toward Arthur.
“Place your thumb here. Approve the transfer, and Elena lives.”
Arthur stepped closer.
Elena met his eyes.
There was fear in them.
But there was also something else.
She looked toward the ceiling vent.
Arthur understood.
The tactical team had reached the ventilation route.
He placed his thumb on the scanner.
The system accepted his print.
Richard smiled.
Then the laptop displayed:
TRANSFER DENIED — EXECUTIVE FRAUD LOCK ACTIVE.
Arthur had instructed the company’s bank to freeze every account before entering the building.
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“You planned this.”
“I learned from my mother.”
Richard’s hand tightened around the syringe.
Elena suddenly kicked backward, striking his knee.
The syringe slipped.
Arthur lunged.
Richard drove his shoulder into Arthur’s chest, sending both men against the conference table.
The syringe rolled across the floor.
Elena bent forward despite the ropes and kicked it beneath a cabinet.
Richard punched Arthur twice.
Arthur caught the third blow and slammed him against the wall.
A ceiling panel crashed down.
Tactical officers entered.
Richard grabbed a broken piece of glass and held it against Elena’s throat.
“Back away!”
Everyone froze.
Elena’s breathing came fast and shallow.
Arthur looked at Richard.
“You don’t want to kill her.”
“You don’t know what I want.”
“You want money. Killing her guarantees you never see it.”
Richard’s eyes shifted toward the laptop.
That half-second was enough.
Elena threw her weight sideways.
Arthur seized Richard’s wrist.
Hayes fired a stun round.
Richard collapsed.
Officers dragged him away while Arthur cut Elena free.
She fell against him.
“I knew you’d come.”
“I will always come.”
Paramedics rushed in.
As Elena was placed on a stretcher, Hayes opened Richard’s laptop.
The overseas account was not in his name.
It belonged to Margaret Bennett.
Richard had been transferring the stolen millions to her private trust for years.
Margaret had not been his victim.
She had financed the entire scheme.
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And now, faced with the evidence, Walter agreed to testify about everything.
👉 Richard had been captured, but Margaret’s secret accounts proved she had controlled the conspiracy from the beginning—and she still believed she could escape punishment.
