Chapter 9 - THE BETRAYAL OF OLIVIA CARTER
Back in Chicago, the corporate war reached its boiling point.
Viktor Morena’s enforcers had seized control of two major downtown casinos, threatening to liquidate Hayes assets unless Alexander surrendered unconditionally.
Madison Hayes paced the penthouse office of the Hayes Hotel, her face pale with panic.
“Where is my brother?!” she screamed at Marcus.
“He’s still in Toronto playing house with his runaway wife!” Marcus replied coldly, sipping his black coffee.
“Well, we have to do something!” Madison shrieked.
“Morena’s men are coming for us next!”
Suddenly, the office doors pushed open.
Olivia Carter walked in.
She wasn't wearing her usual designer dresses or diamond necklaces.
She wore a sharp black trench coat, carrying a briefcase filled with bearer bonds.
“Calm down, Madison,” Olivia purred smoothly, a cold, predatory smile playing on her lips.
“Panic is so unbecoming.”
Madison stared at her in confusion.
“Olivia? What are you doing here? Where did you get those bonds?”
Olivia set the briefcase on the glass desk and popped the latches.
Stacks of untraceable cash and bearer bonds lay inside.
“Morena pays very well for internal security codes,” Olivia announced casually, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with a gold lighter.
Madison gasped, stumbling backward.
“You... you’re working with Morena?!”
“Of course I am, darling,” Olivia laughed lightly.
“Alexander was so obsessed with his boring wife and his dead kid that he didn't notice his entire empire was rotting from the inside.”
“When Morena takes over, I’ll be the queen of Chicago.”
Before Madison could scream, the office door was kicked off its hinges with a deafening crash!
Wood splinters exploded across the room.
Standing in the doorway wasn't Alexander.
It was Marcus.
His face was carved from dark granite, his eyes burning with lethal rage.
He drew a heavy suppressed pistol from his shoulder holster.
Olivia’s smug smile vanished instantly.
“Marcus... darling,” Olivia stammered, dropping her cigarette.
“I can explain—”
“You don't need to explain anything, Olivia,” Marcus said, his voice lower than a whisper.
“I heard every single word.”
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Marcus raised his weapon, pointing it squarely between her eyes.
“Traitorous rats don't get trials in this family.”
