Chapter 7
The heavy knocking at the penthouse door was relentless, each strike sounding more urgent than the last. On the computer screen, Maya’s face tightened with panic.
"Marcus, turn off the feed," Maya whispered urgently. "If that’s security or your father’s men, they know you have the drive."
"Stay on the line," Marcus muttered, standing up from his desk and walking quietly down the hallway toward the foyer.
He didn't turn on the overhead lights. Through the peephole, he saw two men in dark suits standing in the dim corridor. They weren't building security. He recognized one of them as his father’s personal head of security, a towering, taciturn man named Vance had employed for over a decade.
"Mr. Vance," a muffled voice called out from the other side of the heavy wood. "We know you're in there, sir. Your father sent us to secure the premises and collect any lingering documents regarding the wedding."
Marcus gripped the doorknob, his heart hammering against his ribs. He looked back down the dark hallway toward the glowing screen of his computer, where Maya was still watching him through the encrypted video link.
"Open the door, Marcus," the man outside commanded, his tone shifting from polite to threatening. "Don't make this difficult for yourself."
Marcus made his choice. He didn't open the door. Instead, he turned around and sprinted back to the living room, grabbing his car keys, his wallet, and the USB drive from the desktop.
"The security detail is at my door," Marcus said quickly into his phone as he grabbed his dark leather jacket from the coat rack. "I'm getting out of here."
"Where are you going?" Maya asked.
"Downtown," Marcus said grimly, heading toward the private elevator service that led straight down to the underground parking garage. "I'm going to get that key out of the floral bouquet before my father’s men sweep the venue."
"Marcus, wait! The venue is locked down by the city police department as a crime scene," Maya warned. "You won't get past the perimeter without being arrested."
"Watch me," Marcus replied coldly.
He punched the elevator button, sliding the phone into his jacket pocket while keeping the line open. The private elevator chimed softly, the polished brass doors sliding open to reveal an empty car. He stepped inside, pressed the button for the subterranean parking level, and watched as the doors closed, cutting off the view of his living room just as a loud crash echoed from the hallway above—his front door had just been forced open.
The elevator descended rapidly, the mechanical hum vibrating through the floorboards. Marcus pulled his phone back out, checking the screen. The encrypted connection was still active, Maya’s steady breathing audible through the speaker as she listened to him navigate the escape.
When the elevator reached the parking garage, the doors slid open to reveal rows of luxury vehicles under the harsh fluorescent lights. Marcus broke into a fast walk toward his matte-black sports car parked near the corner pillar.
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As he clicked his key fob and the car lights flashed in response, a pair of headlights suddenly flickered on from the dark aisle directly opposite him, blocking his only exit route out of the garage.
***
