Chapter 5
The mist rolled across the laser-lit floor, freezing the red lines into shimmering prisms of ice. Julian gripped Clara’s cold hand, his muscles tensed as he stared into the swirling white abyss of the open walk-in freezer. The scratching noise grew louder, accompanied by a pathetic, high-pitched whimper that cut straight through the mechanical hum of the refrigeration unit.
"If this is another one of your psychological tortures," Julian muttered, his voice trembling with a mixture of cold and rage, "I swear I will burn this entire bakery to the ground myself."
Victor smiled faintly, though his eyes remained dead and calculating. "Patience, Julian. Assets cannot be rushed through customs. Acquisitions require proper inspection."
Out of the freezing fog trotted an absurdly fluffy, golden-furred golden retriever puppy no bigger than a football. It had oversized paws that slipped on the frosted linoleum, sending it skidding clumsily toward Clara’s white tulle dress. It stopped at her feet, sat down, and sneezed loudly before looking up with soulful, dark brown eyes. Around its neck was a thick leather collar attached to a heavy gold-plated padlock.
Maya clapped her hands together softly. "Asset acquired! See? I told you she needed a puppy."
Clara knelt down, ignoring the freezing cold soaking through the delicate fabric of her wedding gown. Her fingers brushed the puppy's soft head, and the little creature immediately began licking her knuckles. But as her fingers slid under the thick leather collar, she felt something hard and metallic stitched into the lining.
"Father," Clara whispered, her voice dangerously quiet. "What is attached to this dog?"
Victor stepped closer, his cane clicking rhythmically against the icy floor. "That, my dear, is the master key to the Vance Corporation offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. Your dear husband-to-be couldn't afford a real diamond ring without my backing, so I fronted the capital. And collateral requires a living signature."
Julian stepped forward, positioning himself between Victor and Clara. "You used a live animal as a cryptographic hardware token? That’s animal cruelty on top of financial fraud!"
"It’s biometric data storage, Julian," Victor corrected sharply. "The puppy’s heartbeat syncs with the encryption key. If the dog's heart stops, or if you try to remove the collar without the proper authorization code, the offshore accounts transfer automatically to my primary holding company: Vance & Granddaughter LLC."
Maya beamed proudly at the mention of her corporate title. "I own forty-nine percent of the voting shares. My preschool portfolio is diversified, Uncle Julian."
Clara stood up slowly, the puppy cradled carefully in her arms. Its warm body contrasted sharply with the freezing air of the kitchen. She looked past her father, staring at the welded exit doors where the shadows of men in black suits still stood motionless against the frosted glass.
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"There's only one way out of this contract, isn't there?" Clara asked, her voice dangerously steady.
Victor nodded slowly. "You and Julian have to sign the final amendment. But the pen is locked inside the walk-in freezer."
