Page 141 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Chapter Twenty Four

Aiden

Tonight would change everything. Our plans had to work. The groundwork was in place. Avery and I had done everything in our power to make sure they’d fall like dominoes. If we pulled this off, we’d be free. Finally free to be together without hiding in the shadows. I’d finally destroy the Daniels legacy and all its corruption and abuse.

When we’d discovered the clause in her trust fund, I’d known exactly what I had to do. Avery’s safety and happiness were paramount. In a crazy twist of fate, it was me who’d insisted on this course of action when she’d been sceptical.

Whilst it might have looked like we’d done this just so Frazier couldn’t get his hands on her trust fund, we knew the truth. I loved her and she loved me. Our souls were meant for each other. Who gave a fuck about timescales, about what was right or wrong? At the end of the day, all that mattered was us.

Avery had looked like a fucking goddess before she left. That dress fit her like a glove. I would have to thank her friend at a later date. Gert and James had been there for the two of us in the past few weeks and their help really was invaluable, along with Ben, Skye and John.

I knew what it was to rely on your fellow soldiers in the army, but back in civilian life, things were different. Avery taught me it was okay to trust other people when you knew they had your back. I had hers and she had mine. That made us a team. The two of us wouldn’t have been able to achieve this by ourselves, which is why having our friends around us made such a difference.

I dusted my shoulder before walking out the door ten minutes after Avery left. As a valued employee, I was invited to her birthday event. Chuck had spent weeks on this. He’d coordinated the event himself.

I wasn’t sure why he’d suddenly become so invested in his niece, but I had a feeling it was more to do with the publicity this event would bring than it being Avery’s birthday.

Daniels Holdings had been through a string of bad press since Mitchell and Kathleen’s murders. All the rumours surrounding it had done nothing but drag the company’s name through the mud. Admittedly, this is what I’d wanted, but now, we needed a new narrative. A new spin on things. That’s what our plans tonight would achieve.

I got in the Jag and made my way across the city. Chuck had picked a central location for it right next to Westminster. Avery had shown me pictures of the mock-ups of what the room would look like. Even though she wasn’t happy about having this event in the first place, she did get stuck into helping Chuck with it.

Parking up nearby, I got out and walked to the venue. Some of the press were outside, but I imagined Chuck had invited a lot of them as guests. This was big news. The first real chance anyone would get to see Avery as the new head of the company. She’d refused so many interviews.

I nodded at the door staff as I walked in, flashing my invitation. The place was really done up. Chuck had spared no expense. There were flowers everywhere with some flowing material hanging down from the ceiling.

As I walked into the ballroom, I spied John immediately. He was standing against one of the walls, surveying the crowd. I made a beeline for him, keeping my eyes peeled for my girl. I spotted her with James and Gert towards the back of the room.

Thank fuck.

At least she wasn’t with any of the other twats who’d been invited to this event. I was sure she’d be hounded all evening but for now, she was with her friends.

“You not worried someone might try steal her away from you this evening?” John said as I joined him against the wall.

“You’re a funny man.”

He grinned, giving me a wink.

“You sure she’s ready to go through with this?”

“She knows she can back out at any time, but I don’t think she will. Not now.”

There was a lot at stake. In order to convince everyone, Avery had become quite the actress over the past few weeks. Still, this was going to come as quite a shock to a number of people, Chuck included.

I spied Frazier and Tristan walking in the ballroom together. Both were in tuxes, their hair slicked back in matching styles.

“You really think he’s bought all of this?”

“Who, Frazier?”

“He looks very smug right now.”

Frazier’s eyes had fallen on Avery. The glint in them made my blood boil in my veins. Fucking cunt. I couldn’t wait to make him pay.

“He thinks he has everything he’s ever wanted in the palm of his hand.”

John gave me a sly smile. Frazier was about to get a fucking wakeup call. Tonight was about guaranteeing our success. It wasn’t easy to fool a man as suspicious of the world as Frazier, but my girl was determined. She hated Tristan and Frazier more than I did at this point.

“I never thought I’d relish the day we set the empire up to fall flat on its face.”

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