Chapter 14 - The Paris Invitation
The plan was highly dangerous, completely reckless, and absolutely brilliant. Dominic knew that Vanessa operated on a level of extreme arrogance. She believed she had outsmarted everyone, sitting safely in her European stronghold. To draw her out, they needed to offer her a target she simply could not resist.
Dominic publicly announced a massive, multi-billion-dollar acquisition of a European pharmaceutical logistics company. It was a legitimate business move, but it had a hidden purpose. The logistics company controlled supply chains that the Corsican Circle desperately needed to transport their weaponized toxins globally. By buying the company, Dominic was effectively cutting off Vanessa's oxygen supply.
Two days later, the trap was sprung. A heavy, black envelope lined with gold foil arrived at the Moretti estate. It was an invitation to the exclusive Solstice Masquerade at a private chateau just outside of Paris. The event was notoriously known as a neutral ground where European billionaires, shadow brokers, and politicians mingled to make illicit deals.
"She is inviting us into the lion's den," Dominic said, tossing the elegant invitation onto the granite kitchen counter. "It is an auction. She is going to sell the chemical formulas to the highest bidder at that gala, and she wants us in the front row to watch our empire fall."
Hannah picked up the invitation, running her thumb over the gold embossed crest. "She wants to humiliate you, Dominic. But she doesn't realize I have been studying the blood samples from the lawyer she poisoned. The synthetic digitalis she is using has a very specific molecular flaw."
Dominic looked at her, entirely captivated by the brilliant, dangerous spark in her eyes. "A flaw?"
"It is highly unstable when exposed to rapid temperature drops," Hannah explained calmly, tapping her finger on the counter. "If we can isolate the main batch of the toxin at the gala, I can neutralize it completely with a simple endothermic chemical reaction. I just need to get close to the vault."
Eleanor chuckled from her wheelchair by the window, sipping her morning tea. "I am telling you, Dominic, you must marry this woman immediately before she decides to take over the world herself."
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Dominic smiled, walking over to Hannah and wrapping his arm securely around her waist. "We fly to Paris tonight. But Hannah, once we step into that chateau, there are no backup teams. We will be completely surrounded by Vanessa's mercenaries. If things go wrong, you run. You do not look back."
Hannah looked up at him, her expression entirely serious. "We walk in together, Mr. Moretti. And we walk out together."
