Chapter 8
Claire looked down at her father, her expression devoid of the pity she had carried for him her entire life. The pale blue of her evening dress seemed to catch the light of the glowing candles, illuminating her as the new, undisputed power in the room.
"I haven't ruined anything, Dad," Claire said, her voice echoing with calm, lethal authority. "I just changed the locks to keep you from burning the house down."
She turned her gaze to her three half-sisters. Madison, Lauren, and Emily were trembling, the arrogant, confident expressions they had worn just minutes ago completely wiped away. They looked at Claire with wide, terrified eyes, realizing that the woman they had mocked and ignored now held their entire financial futures in her hands.
"Madison," Claire said, her tone professional, cold, and razor-sharp. "Clear out your office by noon tomorrow. Lauren, your corporate credit cards are suspended effective immediately. Emily, the charity foundation you pretend to run is being audited, and your salary is terminated."
"Claire, you can't do this to us!" Lauren wailed, clutching her champagne-gold sequined gown, tears ruining her expensive makeup. "We're your sisters!"
"You are liabilities," Claire corrected bluntly. "And starting tonight, Whitmore Enterprises does not carry dead weight."
Dominic watched her, utterly captivated. The restrained, elegant woman in the modest dress was wielding power with the natural, ruthless grace of a seasoned kingpin. She didn't raise her voice. She didn't scream. She simply executed them with words. It was the most intoxicating thing he had ever witnessed.
Dominic stepped forward, his polished black leather shoes stopping right beside Claire. He looked down at Charles.
"You will pack your personal belongings and vacate the executive suite by Monday," Dominic ordered, his voice returning to its intimidating, heavy bass. "You will not speak to the press. You will not contact the board. If I hear even a whisper that you are trying to undermine Claire's authority, I will not bother with financial ruin. I will simply remove you from the equation. Permanently."
Charles swallowed hard, his face pale and slick with sweat. He looked at Dominic, then at Claire, realizing with absolute, crushing certainty that his reign was over. He had brought the wolf to his door, hoping to feed it scraps, only to watch it hand the keys to the daughter he had kept chained in the cellar.
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"Get out of my sight," Dominic commanded softly.
Charles scrambled to his feet. He didn't look back at Claire. He practically shoved past Madison and Emily, fleeing down the west corridor toward the private offices, desperate to escape the terrifying presence of the mafia boss. The three sisters, stripped of their father's protection, cast one last terrified look at Claire before hiking up their luxurious gowns and hurrying after him, their high heels clicking frantically against the marble.
