Chapter 2 - THE FORGED COLLATERAL
Delia froze beneath the shadow of the marble pillar.
Her thumb remained pressed against her stained index finger.
Casimir Varo did not blink.
His eyes were the color of stagnant river water.
Dark.
Unforgiving.
Cold enough to strip the warmth from the ballroom.
Ten feet away, Vivian still held her champagne flute in midair.
Her lips were parted in a frozen smile.
The socialites nearby stopped whispering.
The silence spread outward like spilled oil on glass.
Harlan Beckett shoved his way past two councilmen.
His face was flushed crimson beneath his graying hairline.
He forced a jovial, rattling laugh that fooled no one.
"Mr. Varo!" Harlan exclaimed, offering a sweating palm.
"You arrived earlier than expected."
"My daughter Vivian was just saying how eager she was to meet you."
Casimir did not look at Harlan’s hand.
He did not look at Harlan at all.
His gaze stayed pinned to Delia’s face.
"Your father lacks manners," Casimir said softly.
The words were spoken only to her.
Delia swallowed against a dry throat.
Her heart kicked hard against her ribs.
"He is trying to be a businessman, Mr. Varo."
"He is trying to survive," Casimir corrected.
He reached inside his charcoal tuxedo jacket.
Harlan took an involuntary step back, his shoulders tensing.
Casimir produced a folded square of crisp white linen.
He took Delia’s right hand before she could pull it away.
His fingers were warm, calloused, and unyielding.
He wrapped the linen around her ink-stained thumb.
"You ruin your skin for forty-three men who don't know your name," he murmured.
Delia pulled against his grip, but his fingers held firm.
"I run payroll for forty-three families, Mr. Varo."
"Someone has to make sure their rent clears."
"Not while your father spends their wages on French champagne."
Vivian stepped forward, her sapphire silk whispering against the carpet.
Her smile had returned, sharp as broken glass.
"Mr. Varo, please excuse my sister."
"She spends far too much time in the basement offices."
"She forgets how to speak to distinguished guests."
Casimir finally turned his head.
He looked at Vivian for two long seconds.
He looked at the diamond earrings catching the light.
He looked at the unblemished hands holding the crystal flute.
"Your earrings cost twelve thousand dollars, Miss Beckett," Casimir said evenly.
Vivian’s chin lifted with practiced pride.
"A gift from my father for my birthday."
"No," Casimir said, his voice cutting through the quiet.
"They were purchased on Pier 14 yesterday morning."
"With money stolen from my container terminal."
Vivian’s smile vanished.
The color drained from her cheeks, leaving her pale as chalk.
Harlan choked on his breath.
"Casimir, please... we had an understanding—"
"We had an agreement, Harlan," Casimir interrupted.
He released Delia’s hand, though his shoulder remained between her and the room.
He pulled a folded legal document from his breast pocket.
He tossed it onto a nearby cocktail table.
The paper struck the mahogany with a crisp, heavy slap.
"Read page four, Delia," Casimir commanded.
Delia stepped out from behind the pillar.
Her slate-blue dress caught the draft from the grand doors.
She looked at her father.
Harlan was sweating, his eyes darting toward the service exits.
She looked at the document.
It was an emergency collateral guarantee for eight hundred twenty thousand dollars.
Dated six days ago.
Pledging all assets of Beckett Freight to Varo Logistics in the event of default.
At the bottom lay two signatures.
Harlan Beckett.
And below it, in hurried, uneven cursive:
Delia Beckett.
Delia’s breath caught in her chest.
A cold, sickening dread poured through her veins.
"I didn't sign this," she whispered.
"I know," Casimir said.
"Then why is my name on it?"
Casimir turned his cold gaze toward Harlan.
"Because your father needed someone to take the federal prison sentence when the default notices trigger at midnight."
Harlan’s hand dropped toward his jacket pocket.
Two men in dark overcoats appeared silently behind him.
May you like
Before Harlan could take a step, the chandeliers overhead flickered twice.
A sudden, deafening fire alarm tore through the Ashmore Hotel.
