Chapter 33
Chapter 33:
Aurora walked in. Jones was by her side, scanning the perimeter. She was still wearing her blazer and jeans. She looked professional, but not wealthy in the way these salesmen were used to.
A salesman with slicked-back hair looked her up and down. He didn’t move from his desk.
Aurora walked over to a matte black SUV. It was a tank disguised as a luxury vehicle.
“That one,” she said, pointing. “Does it have the reinforced chassis option p>
The salesman sighed and walked over. “Miss, that is the Armored Edition. It costs three hundred thousand dollars. We require a credit check before a test drive p>
Aurora didn’t argue. She didn’t explain. She turned to Jones. “Handle it p>
Jones stepped forward, placing a briefcase on the salesman’s desk. He opened it slightly, revealing stacks of cash and a cashier’s check.
“Full payment,” Jones grunted. “We need the keys. Now p>
The salesman’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. His entire demeanor flipped. He bowed slightly, his smile oily and servile. “Right away, Ma’am. Would you like espresso while we process the paperwork p>
“Just the keys,” Aurora said. “And the bulletproof glass upgrade. Sterling plays dirty. I need a mobile fortress, not just a car p>
Thirty minutes later, Jones drove the heavy beast off the lot while Aurora sat in the back, working on her laptop. The door closed with a reassuring thwack. The world outside was muffled. She felt safe. For the first time in years, she felt like she was inside a fortress.
Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Julian.
The attack on Pulse has ceased. Sterling has been… encouraged… to look elsewhere.
Aurora frowned. She hadn’t asked for help.
Back at the Thorne Estate, Elias was watching a surveillance feed of the city skyline on a massive screen.
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“He stopped?” Elias asked without turning around.
“Yes, sir,” Julian confirmed. “He’s terrified of you p>
“Good.” Elias turned. “Now, send an invitation to Ms. Vance p>
“For dinner?” Julian asked hopefully.
“No,” Elias said. “For the Charity Gala on Saturday. She needs a stage p>
“A stage, sir p>
“Sterling will be there. The media will be there. She has been hiding in the dark for too long,” Elias said. “It’s time the world saw the Queen p>
Aurora arrived at her new apartment—a temporary luxury rental while she looked for something permanent. A courier was waiting in the lobby.
He handed her a thick, cream-colored envelope with gold embossing.
The Thorne Foundation Annual Gala.
Aurora stared at it. Her stomach flipped.
“Sterling will be there,” she realized. “And his mother. And everyone who laughed at me p>
She walked to the trash can. She hovered the invitation over the bin.
Then she stopped.
She remembered the feeling of the needle in her hand. She remembered the look of fear on Stone’s face.