Chapter 3 - THE TURNING POINTCamryn’s eyes narrowed into razor-thin slits. For a fraction of a second, a flicker of genuine confusion crossed her face, immediately replaced by a chilling, predatory calm. She had built an empire by crushing opposition, and she wasn't going to let a junior military officer throw her off balance.
"A recording?" Camryn let out a sharp, dismissive laugh, though her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her designer handbag. "Oh, darling. You really do watch too many television dramas. Even if you recorded something—which you didn't—do you honestly believe a court in California, or anywhere else in this country, would admit a secret recording against a Cross? My legal team owns half the appellate judges in this state. By tonight, any device you own will be seized under a court-ordered gag order for national security violations."
"National security?" I chuckled, stepping out from behind the table and walking slowly toward her. "That’s a cute touch, Camryn. But let’s clear up a misconception right now. I’m not planning on taking you to a civil family court."
Camryn didn't move, holding her ground with haughty superiority. "Then where do you think you're taking us? A military tribunal? Don't make me laugh."
"Not a tribunal," I said, stopping just three feet away from her. I could smell her expensive perfume—jasmine and cold ambition. "Federal indictment."
Adrian let out a panicked gasp from the corner. "Mother, she’s not bluffing! Last night... she broke my arm's momentum without even blinking! She’s CID! She knows how federal white-collar task forces operate!"
Camryn finally shot Adrian a venomous glare of pure disgust. "Shut up, you pathetic coward! You let a woman intimidate you?" She whipped her head back to me, her eyes flashing with venom. "You think you can bring down the Cross Foundation? My philanthropic contributions fund half the political campaigns in Washington. You are a speck of dust on my windshield, Elena. I can flick you away before lunch."
"You could," I agreed smoothly. "If this was just about you and me. But let's talk about what else was on that server."
I pulled my phone from my pocket, tapped the screen once, and placed it flat on the mahogany table between us. I pressed play.
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Instantly, the crystal-clear audio of Camryn’s voice boomed through the silent room: “Don't let her challenge you. Put her in her place tonight. I'll be there tomorrow to make sure she understands exactly how this family works. And make sure the offshore accounts in the Caymans are fully scrubbed before the IRS audit hits next month.”
Camryn’s face lost every vestige of color. The pristine, untouchable philanthropist vanished, leaving behind an aging woman whose empire was built on quicksand.
