"How do you—" Damien started, then stopped. "Derek. That drunk i***t showed you Richard's files."
"Among other sources."
"So you know everything. You know the whole plan." Damien walked back to his desk and sat down slowly, his mind clearly racing.
"Which means this conversation is pointless. You're not here to negotiate. You're here to..."
He trailed off, studying Marcus intensely.
"You're here to see if I'll give you a reason not to destroy me," Damien finished. "You're giving me a chance to back down. To walk away. To leave you and the Ashfords alone."
"Something like that."
"Why? Why give me that chance? Why not just release everything and watch me burn?"
Marcus thought about his answer carefully. Why was he here? Why was he offering Damien a way out?
"Because destruction is
