Chapter 13
The town car pulled back into the subterranean parking garage of Vance Towers as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the western sky in streaks of bruised purple and amber. The massive concrete pillars of the garage loomed overhead, but the cold, sterile atmosphere of the corporate fortress felt entirely different tonight.
When the car stopped, Marcus appeared instantly by the door, opening it with practiced efficiency. He took one look at Arthur’s expression—and the sleeping child resting against Sarah’s shoulder—and instantly adjusted his posture, dropping his rigid security stance into something far more accommodating.
"Sir, the executive suite has been prepped," Marcus murmured quietly, keeping his voice down. "And Helen has forwarded the preliminary audit reports from the Maple Street management firm to federal authorities as requested."
"Thank you, Marcus," Arthur said as he stepped out of the vehicle, offering a hand to help Sarah navigate the low threshold while carrying Clara.
Sarah stepped out onto the polished concrete floor, her eyes scanning the vast, immaculate parking garage with a mix of lingering skepticism and quiet acceptance. She shifted Clara’s weight in her arms, the girl letting out a soft sigh in her sleep but remaining deeply rested.
"You can't just take us to your penthouse, Arthur," Sarah whispered, halting near the private elevator bank. "I have boxes to unpack, and we need to go back and get our things."
"Your things are already being handled," Arthur said calmly. He tapped a discreet security fob against the private elevator panel, and the heavy steel doors slid open instantly, revealing a polished wood-paneled interior that smelled faintly of cedar and clean leather. "My logistics team is managing the transfer. You aren't going back to that apartment tonight, Sarah. The building is undergoing emergency structural inspections starting at dawn."
Sarah looked from her father to the open elevator doors, then down at Clara sleeping peacefully against her chest. She knew arguing with him when he had that particular tone of voice was entirely useless. Besides, the sheer exhaustion in her own bones made the prospect of a warm bed and a quiet room impossible to resist.
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"Fine," Sarah conceded quietly, stepping into the elevator. "One night. But tomorrow, we go back to normal."
Arthur stepped in behind her, pressing the penthouse button. The heavy doors closed smoothly, sealing them off from the noise and pressure of the outside world as the car began its silent, rapid ascent to the forty-second floor.
