Chapter 8 - The Hostage Call
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The secure cell phone resting on Lorenzo’s desk buzzed violently, shattering the quiet focus of the library.
Lorenzo glanced at the caller ID. He picked up the phone, tapped the screen, and put it on speaker, placing it directly in front of Emma.
"It's your father," Lorenzo said softly.
Emma took a deep breath. She leaned forward.
"Moretti," Charles Whitmore’s voice barked through the speaker. He sounded arrogant, trying to mask his underlying panic. "It has been forty-eight hours. My daughter was supposed to be returned this morning. We are preparing the repayment schedule, but I demand you send Emma back to Manhattan immediately."
"Mr. Whitmore," Lorenzo replied smoothly, his tone dripping with faux politeness. "I'm afraid your daughter has decided to extend her stay. She is finding the accommodations here quite... illuminating."
"Listen to me, you thug," Andrew’s voice suddenly chimed in, sounding frantic in the background. "If you touch her, I swear to God—"
"You'll do what, Andrew?" Emma interrupted, her voice slicing through the speaker like a razor blade.
Dead silence fell over the line.
"Emma?" Vanessa’s voice squeaked, shock evident in her tone. "Are you okay? Where are you locked up?"
"I'm not locked up, Vanessa," Emma said coldly, leaning back in her plush leather chair. "I'm currently sitting in Lorenzo's library, drinking incredibly expensive coffee."
"What the hell is going on, Emma?" Charles demanded, his authority cracking. "Tell him we are transferring the first installment of the eighteen million by Friday. Tell him you need to come home to finalize the paperwork."
"That won't be necessary, Charles," Emma stated, finally dropping the title of 'Dad'. "Because the eighteen million isn't missing anymore. I rerouted it from Andrew's pathetic shell company in Belize an hour ago. Lorenzo has his money back."
"You did what?!" Andrew shrieked, pure terror bleeding into his voice. "Emma, the Macau creditors will kill me! You have to send it back! I'm your brother!"
"You called me the 'nobody sister' three days ago, Andrew," Emma reminded him flawlessly. "Consider this me introducing myself."
"Emma, listen to me," Charles ordered, his voice shaking with furious panic. "You have no idea who you are dealing with! Moretti is a monster! Get out of that house right now!"
Lorenzo leaned over Emma's shoulder, his mouth close to the microphone.
"She is fully aware of who I am, Charles," Lorenzo murmured, his voice a lethal, vibrating threat. "But you have no idea who she is. Do not call this number again. The next time you hear from the Moretti family, it will be my lawyers seizing your assets."
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Lorenzo pressed a button, ending the call. The silence in the library felt heavy and victorious. Emma let out a long, shaky exhale, her hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline.
Lorenzo reached out and gently covered her shaking hands with his own. "You did perfectly."
