Chapter 11 - The Psychology of the Predator
Maya’s mind raced wildly, evaluating her options. The desk behind her was heavy wood, but the room was narrow, and Arthur was blocking the only exit. She needed time. She needed to break his cold, calculated detachment.
"You think she'll give you those shares, Arthur?" Maya said, her voice dropping into a steady, challenging tone. She took a microscopic step to the left, positioning herself nearer to the desk lamp. "You've known Victoria your whole life. She doesn't give power away. She uses people. Once I'm gone, once Julian is isolated, she will crush you just like she crushes everyone else."
Arthur’s hand trembled slightly around the grip of the gun, a tiny flicker of emotion cracking his placid mask. "You know nothing about my mother."
"I know she hates weakness," Maya pressed, her brown eyes locking onto his with lethal intensity. "And you, Arthur... you are the weakest man in this house. You hide in this dark room with your servers and your guns, begging for scraps of love from a woman who looks at you like an embarrassment!"
"Shut up!" Arthur snapped, his jaw clenching as his eyes flashed with sudden, unpredictable rage.
"She used you to abuse a toddler!" Maya shouted, taking another half-step forward. "If Julian finds out what you did, he won't just throw Victoria out of this family—he will put you in a cage! You think you're smart? You left a digital footprint on this server that I bypassed in less than two minutes! You're sloppy, Arthur! You're terrified!"
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"I said shut up!" Arthur screamed, raising the silver revolver with both hands, his sight alignment trembling wildly as his emotional composure completely collapsed.
Behind him, the heavy oak door swung open with explosive force.
