CHAPTER 2 – THE MAN WHO GOT OUT OF THE SUV TOO LATE
CHAPTER 2 – THE MAN WHO GOT OUT OF THE SUV TOO LATE
The bus had barely traveled another three blocks when Audrey's phone rang again.
"Don't get off at your apartment," Charles Brooks ordered, his voice cold enough to freeze steel. "My team is already en route. Stay exactly where you are."
"Dad..."
"No, Audrey. Listen to me. This is no longer a family disagreement."
She looked down at Leo sleeping peacefully against her chest.
"This became a security matter the moment my daughter was forced onto public transportation five days after major surgery while driving one of my company's registered vehicles."
Audrey frowned.
"Our company's?"
Charles exhaled slowly.
"You didn't know?"
Her stomach tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
"The SUV Dominic has been driving wasn't your wedding gift."
She blinked.
"It has remained under Brooks Global's corporate ownership the entire time. I left it that way because I assumed it would be safer for insurance purposes."
Audrey closed her eyes.
Which meant...
Dominic had spent two years driving a company vehicle that legally belonged to Brooks Global while pretending it was his personal executive car.
Charles continued.
"I've already instructed Legal to revoke every authorization attached to that vehicle."
A dangerous calm settled over Audrey.
"Dad..."
"I'm done protecting him."
Meanwhile...
Carbone Restaurant.
Victoria Vance admired her reflection in the polished wine glass.
"I always said Audrey was too dramatic."
Natalie laughed.
"Honestly, if she can't even take a bus, how is she supposed to be a mother?"
Arthur chuckled while unfolding his napkin.
"Kids these days are spoiled."
Dominic smiled as the waiter poured sparkling water.
Finally.
A peaceful afternoon without complaints.
His phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
He ignored it.
It rang again.
Then again.
Victoria frowned.
"Answer it before whoever it is ruins lunch."
Dominic sighed and picked up.
"This is Dominic."
A calm female voice answered.
"Mr. Vance, this is Brooks Global Corporate Asset Recovery."
He frowned.
"I'm sorry?"
"We're informing you that Vehicle BG-017 has been remotely disabled effective immediately."
Dominic laughed.
"I think you've got the wrong person."
"No, sir."
"Our records show you're currently operating Brooks Global Asset BG-017 without corporate authorization."
He looked toward the restaurant window.
Outside...
His black SUV's hazard lights suddenly flashed.
Then the engine shut off.
"What the hell..."
"Our recovery personnel will arrive in approximately eleven minutes."
The call ended.
Dominic stared at the phone.
"What was that?" Natalie asked.
He forced a laugh.
"Wrong number."
Then another call came.
This time from his office.
He answered impatiently.
"What?"
His CFO sounded panicked.
"Dominic...where are you?"
"At lunch."
"You need to come in immediately."
"It can wait."
"No, it can't."
The man's breathing was uneven.
"NorthBridge Capital just suspended the Series B funding."
Dominic froze.
"What?"
"They said they discovered undisclosed governance concerns."
"That's impossible."
"They've frozen the forty-million-dollar transfer."
Victoria nearly dropped her fork.
"What did he say?"
Dominic stood up.
"There has to be some mistake."
The CFO continued.
"There's more."
"Say it."
"Our banking partner called."
"Yes?"
"They're reviewing all corporate credit facilities."
Dominic's heart began pounding.
"Why?"
"They wouldn't tell us."
"But..."
"They did mention one name."
A pause.
"Charles Brooks."
Everything around Dominic seemed to stop moving.
The restaurant chatter disappeared.
The clinking glasses faded.
Only one sentence echoed inside his head.
Charles.
Brooks.
He whispered into the phone.
"What does Charles Brooks have to do with my company?"
Silence.
Then the CFO answered carefully.
"...Dominic..."
"You honestly don't know?"
Across Manhattan...
The city bus finally pulled into a quiet stop.
A convoy of three black armored SUVs waited beside the curb.
Every passenger looked outside.
"What is happening?"
"Who are they?"
The bus doors opened.
Eight men in dark tailored suits stepped out simultaneously.
Each wore an earpiece.
Each moved with military precision.
The leader climbed aboard.
He immediately located Audrey.
His expression softened.
"Ms. Brooks."
The entire bus became silent.
The driver blinked.
"You know her?"
The man ignored the question.
Instead, he removed his suit jacket and gently draped it over Audrey's shoulders.
"You've lost a significant amount of blood."
She smiled weakly.
"I'm alright."
"No, ma'am."
His voice was respectful but firm.
"Mr. Brooks has ordered us to bring you and Master Leo home."
One elderly passenger whispered,
"Master...Leo?"
Another passenger looked at Audrey's worn hospital clothes.
She didn't look rich.
She looked exhausted.
The security chief carefully picked up the diaper bag himself.
Another guard carried every discharge package.
A third opened an umbrella although the rain had nearly stopped.
Nobody allowed Audrey to take a single step without assistance.
As she slowly exited the bus, every passenger instinctively moved aside.
The driver finally spoke.
"Ma'am..."
She turned.
"I hope things get better."
Audrey gave him a grateful smile.
"They already have."
Twenty minutes later...
Brooks Estate.
The massive iron gates slowly opened.
Behind them stretched nearly thirty acres of perfectly landscaped gardens surrounding a historic stone mansion that looked more like a presidential residence than a private home.
Audrey hadn't lived here in almost three years.
Not since insisting she wanted an ordinary life with Dominic.
As the SUV stopped beneath the front entrance, over thirty household staff stood waiting in two perfectly organized lines.
The butler opened her door.
"Welcome home, Miss Audrey."
Charles Brooks was already walking down the marble staircase before she could even stand.
The billionaire who had terrified boardrooms across four continents looked nothing like the ruthless businessman newspapers described.
The moment he saw his daughter struggling to hold Leo...
His eyes filled with tears.
He carefully lifted his grandson into his own arms.
"So this," he whispered, "is the little man who changed everything."
Leo yawned.
Charles smiled for the first time in weeks.
Then he looked at Audrey.
The bruises beneath her eyes.
The pain in every movement.
The hospital wristband still attached to her arm.
His smile disappeared.
"What did he feed you?"
Audrey hesitated.
Charles already knew the answer.
"He didn't."
She lowered her head.
"There were days..."
She couldn't finish.
Charles closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the warmth had vanished.
Only the ruthless founder of Brooks Global remained.
He turned toward his chief of security.
"Lock down every property."
"Yes, sir."
"Notify Legal."
"Already standing by."
"The divorce team?"
"They've assembled."
Charles looked toward the family attorney waiting in the foyer.
"I want every financial connection between Audrey Brooks and Dominic Vance identified before sunset."
"Understood."
"The investment committee?"
"They're in the boardroom."
Charles nodded once.
"Good."
He gently kissed Leo's forehead.
Then, in a voice so calm it terrified everyone present, he delivered the order that would destroy Dominic Vance's world.
"By tomorrow morning..."
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