Chapter 3 - The Mask Begins to Slip
The reception was in full swing when we returned to the main floor.
Ethan noticed us immediately from across the room, a glass of bourbon cradled in his hand as he gestured for us to join his table.
Audrey’s mother, Evelyn, sat beside him, wearing a diamond necklace that had been purchased with funds drawn directly from Audrey's stolen trust.
"There she is!" Ethan bellowed, his voice echoing over the jazz band. "The beautiful bride! Taking your time upstairs, weren't you, Liam?"
The men at the table chuckled obediently.
I pulled out a chair for Audrey, ensuring she was seated comfortably before I leaned against the table, looking Ethan directly in the eye.
"Just making sure everything was secure, Ethan," I said smoothly. "You know how important proper documentation is."
Ethan’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, his dark eyes narrowing as he took a slow sip of his drink.
"Documentation?" he repeated, forcing a chuckle. "You sound like an accountant, son. Audrey needs a real man, not somebody who spends his life staring at balance sheets."
Evelyn chimed in, her tone dripping with patronizing condescension. "Oh, Ethan, leave the boy alone. Liam works very hard at his little office job. Not everyone can build a construction empire."
"That's very true, Evelyn," I replied, my tone perfectly polite. "Building an empire takes a lot of... creative accounting."
Ethan set his glass down on the table with a sharp clack.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous register.
"Just admiring your work," I said, holding his gaze without flinching. "For instance, Blue Horizon Holdings. Truly remarkable structure."
The color drained from Ethan’s face so fast it was almost comical.
His hand twitched toward his pocket, his mind frantically trying to process how a "quiet office worker" knew the name of a hidden shell corporation he hadn't mentioned in three years.
"Audrey," Ethan said, his voice cold as ice as he turned to my wife. "Did you tell him something you shouldn't have?"
Before Audrey could answer, I stepped into his line of sight, blocking him completely.
"She didn't have to tell me anything, Ethan," I whispered, leaning in close enough so only he could hear.
"Your servers in the downtown office are currently being cloned by federal agents."
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Ethan stared at me, his mouth opening slightly as the room suddenly seemed to freeze around him.
And right on cue, the heavy oak doors at the back of the ballroom swung open, revealing three uniformed federal marshals standing beside Sophia.
