Chapter 16 - THE CLEANUP|
By two o'clock that afternoon, the executive floor had been cleared. Federal agents had arrived to take Marco into custody based on the evidence Beatrice had compiled, while glass repair crews worked quietly in the corridor.
Beatrice sat in Arthur’s private inner study, sipping warm tea, her hands resting in her lap.
The door opened. Arthur walked in, having changed into a clean dark shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
He walked over to where she sat, dropping to one knee in front of her chair—a movement so quiet and humbled it made Beatrice’s breath hitch.
He took her hands in his large, warm palms.
“Are you hurt?” he asked softly, searching her eyes.
“I’m fine, Arthur,” she whispered. “Just... unused to corporate audits ending in gunfire.”
A rare, faint smile touched Arthur’s harsh lips. “I promised you on Saturday that I wouldn't make you smile to preserve my family’s evening. I seem to have broken every promise I made you.”
“No,” Beatrice said softly, looking down at their joined hands. “You kept the only one that mattered. Tommy is safe. The firm is clean.”
May you like
Arthur reached out, his long fingers gently cupping her chin, lifting her face so she had to look into his intense gray eyes.
“Tommy was business, Beatrice,” Arthur whispered raspy. “This... you and me... this was never about business.”
