Chapter 21 - The London Exchange
The private aviation terminal at Logan International was bathed in the cool gray light of dawn. A sleek Gulfstream G650, bearing the Sterling Capital insignia, stood waiting on the tarmac with its engines softly humming.
Claire walked up the portable stairs, wearing a tailored charcoal trench coat and carrying a minimalist leather briefcase. Nathan Brooks followed closely behind, clutching a tablet loaded with the final transcripts for the European expansion.
"The UK regulatory commission cleared our acquisition of the London fintech portfolio at midnight," Nathan said, settling into the cream-leather seat across from her as the cabin door sealed shut. "You’re officially stepping in as managing director of transatlantic operations."
Claire looked out the oval window as the aircraft began its slow taxi toward the runway. Below, the sprawling skyline of Boston slowly receded into the morning haze—the city where she had spent three years playing the invisible wife, and the city where she had engineered her ultimate rebirth.
"How are the London markets responding to the news?" Claire asked, opening her tablet.
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"They're thrilled," Nathan chuckled, handing her a digital press clipping. "The financial press is already calling you the 'Phantom Architect.' Nobody outside our inner circle knows your real name yet, but every hedge fund manager in Europe is scrambling to figure out who bought out Prescott Global's remaining European debt."
Claire smiled faintly, watching the runway lights blur as the jet accelerated down the tarmac. "Let them wonder. Mystery is a far more effective weapon than a press release."
