Chapter 10 - The Last LaughThree weeks later, a private jet touched down at Ravenport International Airport under a clear blue sky.
Inside the cabin, Adrian Vale sat across from Claire as she reviewed a fresh dossier on the remaining criminal syndicates trying to fill the power vacuum left by the Hawthorne crew.
"They're falling over each other to take over the docks," Claire noted, turning a page on her tablet. "Should we let them fight, or should we step in now?"
Adrian crossed his legs, resting his chin on his hand as he watched her with undisguised admiration. Three years ago, he had thought he hired a simple secretary to manage his schedule. He hadn't realized he had actually hired the brilliant cyber-security prodigy who had once dismantled half the Europol database before vanishing into the corporate world.
"Let them fight for another week," Adrian said calmly. "Then we buy their ports for pennies on the dollar."
Claire nodded, typing a quick instruction into her tablet.
"By the way," Adrian added, a rare smile touching his lips. "Your father's debts in Ohio. They've been fully paid off. Anonymous wire transfer, just like you wanted."
Claire paused. Her fingers stopped moving across the screen. For a second, her professional armor slipped away, revealing the young woman from Willow Creek who had once carried a binder labeled Interview Materials.
She looked up, her eyes meeting his.
"Thank you, Adrian," she whispered.
"Don't mention it," Adrian replied, raising his crystal glass of scotch toward her. "After all... you're the one who keeps my empire running."
May you like
Claire raised her own cup of coffee, clinking it gently against his glass.
Outside the private jet window, the entire city of Ravenport stretched out beneath them—vast, beautiful, and completely under their control. And as the engines roared to life for their next destination, one thing was certain: nobody would ever underestimate the mafia boss, and certainly never, ever his secretary again.
