Chapter 12 - The Art of the Bluff
The boardroom at Kensington Dynamics overlooked the Thames, a sterile, aggressively modern space designed to intimidate.
Julian Thorne sat at the head of the long glass table, a man who wore his bespoke suits like armor. He exuded the kind of arrogant confidence that came from never having been caught.
“Graham, it’s a pleasure,” Thorne said smoothly, not bothering to stand as they entered. “Though I must admit, I was surprised Bastion Arc was interested in a firm of our specific… pedigree.”
“I appreciate efficiency, Julian,” Graham replied, taking the seat opposite him. He did not introduce Elise.
Elise took the chair to Graham’s right, placing a sleek black folder on the table. She wore a tailored crimson blazer that commanded attention, though she remained entirely silent.
Thorne’s eyes flicked to her, a dismissive smirk playing on his lips. “And who is this? Your assistant didn’t mention a plus-one.”
“Elise Parker. Chief Risk Officer,” Elise answered, her voice deliberately flat, giving nothing away.
Thorne launched into a rehearsed presentation, highlighting Kensington’s flawless revenue streams and unbreakable encryption protocols. Elise watched his hands. She watched the way he tapped his gold pen whenever he mentioned their lead developer, a man named Liam Croft who had supposedly taken a sudden sabbatical.
When the presentation ended, Thorne leaned back. “As you can see, our valuation of one point two billion is, frankly, a steal.”
Elise finally opened her black folder. She didn’t look at the paper; she looked dead into Thorne’s eyes.
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“Where is Liam Croft, Mr. Thorne?” she asked quietly.
Thorne’s pen stopped tapping. The sudden, suffocating silence in the room told Elise everything she needed to know.
