Chapter 6 - The Hunt“Where is she?”
Adrian’s roar echoed through the empty corridors of the penthouse. The guests were gone, leaving behind half-empty glasses, spilled champagne, and the lingering scent of expensive ruin.
He burst into the master bedroom, his face contorted in a mask of pure fury. Vanessa followed close behind, her heels clicking rapidly on the wood.
The room was empty.
The bedsheets were disheveled, thrown to one side. But what caught Adrian’s eye was the trail of faint, dark smears on the polished oak floor leading toward the door.
Blood.
“She’s gone,” Vanessa whispered, her eyes wide as she looked at the empty room. “How? She could barely walk. The doctor said if she got out of bed, she’d lose the babies.”
Adrian ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. “She’s playing a game. She’s trying to blackmail me. She thinks she can take my company? She’s a housewife! Her father was a senile old fool who left her nothing but useless brick-and-mortar buildings!”
“Adrian, her father owned the land under half of Manhattan,” Vanessa pointed out, a sudden chill of realization settling in her own chest. “If she inherited his holding companies... she didn't just have buildings. She had the banks that financed them.”
“Shut up!” Adrian snapped, turning on her. “I don't care what she has. She signed the power of attorney over to me three years ago. I control her estate!”
“Obviously you don't,” Vanessa hissed, her Greenwich polo-club politeness completely evaporating. “She just froze your entire life, Adrian! My father has ten million invested in your fund. If that money is gone, he will kill me, and then he will kill you!”
Adrian grabbed his phone from the floor, his fingers shaking as he dialed his security detail downstairs.
“Marcus!” Adrian yelled into the phone. “Did my wife leave the building? Why wasn't I notified?”
A voice he didn't recognize answered. “Marcus is no longer employed by your security firm, Mr. Vance. His contract was terminated, and his final severance was paid by Vanguard Trust twenty minutes ago.”
“Who is this?” Adrian demanded.
“This is the legal representation for Vanguard Trust,” the voice replied coolly. “Please be advised that your tenancy at Penthouse 4A has been terminated due to default of the primary lease, which was held by Aegis Capital. You have twelve hours to vacate the premises with your personal belongings. A moving crew will arrive at 9:00 AM tomorrow to secure the property.”
“You can’t do this!” Adrian screamed. “This is my home! I bought this place!”
“No, Mr. Vance. Aegis Capital leased this place from Vanguard Trust. And since Aegis is currently in receivership, the lease is null and void. Have a pleasant evening.”
The line went dead.
Adrian threw the phone against the wall, shattering it into a hundred pieces. He turned to Vanessa, his eyes wild and bloodshot. “She’s at the hospital. She’s with her doctor. Evelyn’s clinic.”
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“What are you going to do?” Vanessa asked, taking a step back, suddenly terrified of the man she had spent the last year sleeping with.
“I’m going to get my wife,” Adrian snarled, grabbing his car keys from the dresser. “She’s going to sign those assets back to me, or I will make sure she never sees those twins.”
