Page 51 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Chapter Nine

Avery

The board meeting might be in a couple of weeks, but that didn’t stop some of the members coming to see me. I’d been polite and courteous to each one of them. I couldn’t work out who knew about the dark side of the business and who didn’t.

Until they hired me a secretary, Clara was helping me, much to Uncle Charlie’s annoyance. And when she buzzed to say Frazier Shaw was waiting, I wanted to tell her to inform him he had to make an appointment. Except I couldn’t. He was the firm’s solicitor. I had to deal with the man whether I wanted to or not.

I asked her to send him in whilst I fired off a quick text.

ME: Frazier is here.

AIDEN: What the fuck?

ME: I’ll let you know how it goes.

I popped my phone on the desk as he walked in. Frazier Shaw was dressed in a grey pinstripe suit with a cravat.So pretentious.His grey hair was slicked back and he appraised me with dark eyes.

“Hello Avery.”

“Good afternoon Mr Shaw, what can I do for you?”

He strolled toward me.

“There’s no need to be so formal. I have known you since you were in the cradle.”

His eyes roamed over me, a deadly smile appearing on his face. I straightened my spine.

“What brings you here?”

“I heard you were back. I wanted to see for myself. Chuck says you’re ready to take over. The papers are being drawn up as we speak. You are the irrefutable heir after all.”

“Well, as you can see, I’m here. I assure you, I’m prepared for my role.”

He cocked his head to the side.

“Yes… well, if you require anything else of Shaw Associates, you will let me know. I do hope we can begin a successful working relationship together.”

I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat. I wanted to tell him to get the fuck out of my office and never darken my door again. I remembered the video Aiden showed me of him. I tried not to think about the wild look in his eyes when he’d lowered the drill to that girl’s leg.

“Of course, I have every intention of continuing business with your company.”

It killed me to say that. I wanted another firm who were far more reputable and not involved in the horrors my family had committed, but I couldn’t. I had to keep up appearances. None of them could know, I knew the truth. The role I had to play would be key.

I wished I had Aiden right here with me. I didn’t feel safe in Frazier’s presence. He wouldn’t do anything in the office because there were cameras in here. I was in no doubt he was aware of that fact.

I was going to have my father’s office redecorated so I’d taken another one, closer to my uncle. I hated relying on him for help with the business, but the reality was I had no idea what I was doing.

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m sorry about your parents. Mitch and Kath were my closest friends. I do hope the murderer is brought to justice.”

I shuddered. I didn’t want Aiden arrested for it. Yes, what he’d done was wrong, but my parents deserved it. Especially knowing what my dad had done to his mother. It sickened me. The more I discovered about my father, the harder it got to see him as anything other than a monster hidden behind a well-constructed mask. My love for my parents was a pile of ashes at my feet. When the wind blew, they’d scatter, never to be seen again.

“Thank you. It’s been difficult, but I’m sure the police will discover the truth.”

He paced away a few steps.

“Tell me, Avery, do you know why someone wanted them dead?”

I shrugged. I knew all right.

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