LETHAL LEGACY

Chapter 5: Hostile Takeover

POV: Leo

08:00 AM.

I sat in the Dean’s office. It smelled of lemon polish and fear.

"Mr. Vane," Dean Miller stammered. "Are these... bank records?"

"They are," I said calmly. "Records of a transfer from the Thorne Family Trust into your offshore account. Coinciding with Braden Thorne’s failing grade becoming an A-minus."

Miller went pale.

"Option A," I said. "I release this to the press. You go to prison."

Miller swallowed. "And Option B?"

"Option B: Braden Thorne withdraws immediately. And you transfer Rian Ellis into the private studio in the East Wing. The one with biometric locks."

"But that's for PhD students!"

"It is also the only room with reinforced doors," I noted. "Mr. Ellis requires security. Do we have an agreement?"

"I’ll have the paperwork drawn up," Miller whispered.

"Excellent." I stood up. "You have four hours to evacuate Thorne."

Status Update: Threat neutralized. Asset upgraded.

POV: Rian

I walked into the East Wing studio expecting to be in trouble. Instead, I found Leo Vane sitting on a leather couch in my new private office.

"You're late," Leo said.

"Leo? What is going on? Why am I here?"

"Braden Thorne was a security risk," Leo said simply. "He was neutralized. This room is secure. I programmed your fingerprint. And mine."

"Yours?"

"Supervision." Leo stood up. "You haven't eaten in seven hours. Your blood sugar is crashing."

He walked to the kitchenette and opened a black insulated bag. He pulled out a glass container of beef stew.

"Sit," he commanded.

"I have to glue this model—"

"I will hold the bond," Leo said, taking my X-Acto knife. "You eat."

I stared at him. The scary rich boy was holding my model hostage. I sat and ate. The stew was incredible—rosemary, garlic, perfection.

"My dad packed it," Leo said, gluing a strut with surgical precision. "Ezra. He believes nutrition is the foundation of readiness."

"Your dad packs your lunch?" I smiled.

"He manages the supply chain." Leo looked at me. "He knows I forget to eat. He suspects you are the same."

He walked over, trapping me between the table and his body.

"You are in my studio," Leo whispered. "Eating my food. Wearing my scarf. That makes you mine, Rian. And Vanes take very good care of their things."

My heart hammered against my ribs. I should run. But I was tired, and cold, and for the first time, someone was making sure I didn't starve.