Free Web NovelChapter 34: The Offer
Matthew St. Claire rarely made impulsive decisions.
In fact, one of the reasons he had built St. Claire Entertainment into an empire was because he never acted without thinking several steps ahead.
Which was exactly why the envelope bothered him. Not because of the photographs. Not because of the message.
Because of what it meant. Someone else was involved. Someone who knew things they shouldn’t know and who had been watching for years.
The photographs from the villa were also a confirmation that someone was watching either Chris or Liliana.
And that person was not Victor Reyes.
Matthew was certain of it. The journalist was persistent. Curious. Annoying. But predictable.
Victor wanted a story.
The envelope felt different. It was personal. Calculated. Deliberate and dangerous.
Matthew sat inside his office overlooking the city. The photographs lay neatly arranged across his desk.
Henry stood nearby. Waiting.
"What do you think?" Matthew asked.
Henry glanced at the images. "Someone wants attention."
"No." Matthew shook his head. "They want leverage."
The distinction mattered a lot. Because attention seekers were noisy. Leverage seekers were patient. And patience was always more dangerous.
Henry remained silent. Then Matthew made a decision. A rare one and unexpected.
"Contact Victor Reyes."
The bodyguard frowned. "What?"
Matthew looked amused. "You heard me."
Henry frowned again. "You want me to bring the journalist here?"
"Yes."
"Voluntarily?"
"Preferably."
Henry stared. Seconds passed, then he nodded.
"Understood."
Three hours later...
Victor Reyes nearly dropped his coffee.
"Matthew St. Claire wants to meet me?"
The man sitting across from him nodded.
Henry’s expression remained perfectly neutral.
"Today."
Victor immediately became suspicious. Because there were only two possible explanations. Either he was about to receive answers. Or he was about to be buried in legal paperwork.
Possibly both.
"Why?"
Henry’s expression didn’t change.
"The Chairman will explain."
Victor stared. Then sighed.
That was not an answer. Unfortunately, curiosity won.
Later that afternoon, Victor stood inside the lobby of St. Claire Tower. And immediately felt underdressed.
The building radiated wealth. Success. Power.
Everything was polished and perfect. The kind of place designed to remind visitors exactly who owned it.
Victor adjusted his tie for the fifth time.
Then a receptionist approached. "This way, Mr. Reyes."
Victor followed while trying very hard not to look nervous.
The elevator ride felt endless.
The higher it climbed, the more Victor questioned his life choices.
By the time the doors opened on the top floor, his pulse had doubled. Maybe tripled.
A large office waited beyond the hallway. The doors opened automatically.
Victor stepped inside. And found himself face-to-face with Matthew St. Claire. The most powerful man in the entertainment industry. The father of Chris St. Claire.
And possibly the keeper of every answer Victor had spent weeks searching for.
Matthew remained seated behind his desk. Calm and composed. Terrifyingly calm to be exact.
Victor suddenly understood where Chris inherited it from.
"Mr. Reyes." Matthew gestured toward a chair. "Please sit."
Victor obeyed immediately.
Mostly because standing felt dangerous.
For several moments, neither spoke.
The silence stretched. It was heavy and intentional.
Then Matthew finally broke it. "You’ve been investigating my family."
Straight to the point.
Victor respected that. "I have."
Matthew nodded.
"No point denying it."
"No."
Another pause.
Then Matthew surprised him. "I’ve read your articles."
Victor blinked.
That was unexpected. "And?"
Matthew leaned back. "You’re better than most."
Victor wasn’t sure whether that was praise or criticism.
Matthew opened a folder. The photographs from the envelope appeared.
Victor recognized them immediately.
His eyes widened. "These—"
"Were delivered to my son after his concert."
Victor froze. The room became quieter.
Matthew watched him carefully, studying every reaction, every expression and every movement.
Finally, he spoke. "Did you send them?"
Victor answered instantly. "No."
The response arrived too quickly to be fake.
Matthew noticed. And believed him. Because the answer matched his own conclusions.
"You didn’t."
"No." Victor shook his head firmly. "I wouldn’t do that."
Another silence followed.
Then Matthew nodded. "I know."
Victor was surprised. "You know?"
"Yes."
The certainty caught him off guard.
Matthew folded his hands. "You’re looking for the truth."
Victor remained silent.
Matthew continued. "The person who sent this envelope is looking for something else."
The distinction settled heavily between them. Because both men understood exactly what it meant.
Then Matthew did something completely unexpected.
He smiled. Not warmly and not coldly either. And that somehow made it more unsettling.
"I have a proposal."
Victor sat upright. Immediately interested. But suspicious.
"What kind of proposal?"
Matthew slid another file across the desk.
Victor opened it. Then froze.
The contents were extensive. Photographs. Reports. Surveillance summaries. Vehicle records. Notes. Lots of notes.
His eyes widened. "You’ve been investigating the sender."
"Of course." Matthew sounded almost offended.
Victor supposed that was fair. Someone had threatened Matthew’s son. Investigation was inevitable.
Then another realization struck him. "You know who it is?"
Matthew shook his head. "Not yet."
Victor frowned.
Then why show him this?
As if reading his mind, Matthew continued. "I want you to help find them."
Victor stared.
Surely he had misheard. "What?"
Matthew repeated himself. "I want you to help find the person behind the envelope."
Victor’s brain stopped functioning briefly. Because this conversation had not gone according to any possible scenario he had imagined.
Not even close.
Before Victor could respond, the office door opened.
A tall confident woman entered. Sharp-eyed. Professional.
Matthew gestured toward her. "This is Sarah Clifford."
The woman nodded.
Victor recognized the name immediately.
His eyes widened. "No way."
Sarah Clifford. A private investigator. She was legendary because she was discussed in whispers by journalists.
The woman sat beside him. Then offered her hand.
"Mr. Reyes."
Victor shook it automatically.
Sarah smiled faintly. "I’ve read your work."
That somehow felt even more terrifying.
Matthew stood and walked toward the window overlooking the city.
Then finally spoke the words Victor had been waiting weeks to hear.
"The person who sent that envelope threatens more than my son."
Victor listened carefully.
Matthew’s voice softened. Almost imperceptibly.
"It threatens a promise made twenty years ago."
The room fell silent.
Victor’s pulse accelerated. Because finally, they were approaching the real subject.
Liliana. The Sterlings. The secret.
Matthew turned around.
His gaze locked onto Victor’s. "If you help Sarah find the sender..." A pause. Then, "I will answer the questions you’ve spent weeks searching for."
Victor’s heart nearly stopped. The room seemed smaller and the air felt heavier.
Every article. Every photograph. Every sleepless night. Everything had led to this moment.
And finally, real answers from the man who knew everything.
Victor stared at Matthew.
Then at Sarah. Then back to the file.
"How about your son? Did he know something about your offer?"
Matthew, still looking outside, shook his head. "He knew nothing about you. If he knew, you wouldn’t be here. He is more dangerous and reckless than me."
Victor suddenly felt afraid toward Chris.
A choice stood before him. One that could change everything.
Slowly, Victor closed the folder and smiled.
"I think we have a deal."
Far away in Sterling Village, Liliana was busy discussing the internet buzz about them with her cousins.
Completely unaware that two investigations had just become one.
And completely unaware that the truth about her marriage was now closer than ever to being revealed.
