The Orchid House was suffocating.
While the garden outside was cool and breezy, the glass conservatory was kept at a tropical ninety degrees. The air was thick with humidity and the cloying scent of black orchids—flowers that smelled like rotting vanilla.
Lady Catherine stopped near a fountain filled with koi fish. She turned, her lilac dress rustling like dry leaves.
The mask dropped. The benevolent smile vanished, replaced by a look of sheer boredom.
"Let's skip the botany lesson," Catherine said, snapping her fingers.
A servant emerged from the shadows of a large fern, carrying a silver tray. On it sat a checkbook and a Montblanc pen.
"You're a smart girl, Ms. Vance," Catherine said, picking up the pen. "You found out about Frank Miller's yacht. You found out about the fake invoices. Impressive. Most of Julian's little... secretaries... don't have the brain for forensic accounting."
She scribbled a number on a check and tore it out with a satisfying rip.
"Five million dollars," Catherine held the slip of paper out. "Tax-free. Enough to clear your debts, buy a nice condo in Florida, and disappear."
Victoria Belmont giggled, fanning herself with a lace fan. "Take it, you beggar. It's more money than you'll see in ten lifetimes. Or do you prefer to go back to sleeping in your car?"
Arthur Sterling stood behind them, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked at the check, then at Elena, his eyes pleading. Take it. Please just take it and go.
Elena didn't move. She didn't look at the check. She looked at Catherine.
Through the steam and heat, her Data Eye flickered to life, scanning the check itself.
[ITEM ANALYSIS: CHECK #4092]
Bank: Blackwood Family Trust (Cayman Islands).
Account Status: FROZEN.
Available Balance: $420.50.
Reason: Heavy leveraged losses in "Project Chimera."
Elena started to laugh.
It began as a chuckle and grew into a cold, echoing sound that made the koi fish dart away in the pond.
"What's so funny?" Victoria snapped. "Are you hysterical?"
"Five million," Elena repeated, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye. She stepped closer to Catherine, her emerald dress shimmering like poisonous scales. "You're offering me five million dollars from the 'Blackwood Family Trust'?"
Catherine stiffened. "It is a standard settlement."
"It's a bounced check, Catherine," Elena said softly.
The silence in the greenhouse was deafening.
"Excuse me?" Catherine's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"I ran a liquidity test on the Family Trust this morning," Elena lied effortlessly (or rather, deduced instantly). "You leveraged the trust to cover your losses in the European markets last month. If I tried to cash this, the bank would flag you for fraud within an hour."
She plucked the check from Catherine's hand.
"You're not rich, Lady Catherine. You're illiquid."
Elena ripped the check in half. Rip. Then in quarters. Rip. She let the pieces flutter down into the koi pond.
"You!" Victoria shrieked, stepping forward to slap her. "How dare you speak to—"
Elena caught Victoria's wrist in mid-air. Her grip was iron.
"And you," Elena turned her gaze to the spoiled heiress. "Stop pretending you're the victim. You're just a bad investment."
She looked at the terrified Arthur.
"Arthur, tell your fiancée where the money for her engagement party is really coming from. Or should I?"
Arthur paled. "Elena, don't..."
"It's coming from the company's R&D budget," Elena announced, releasing Victoria's wrist with a shove. "You're throwing a party with stolen funds. When the SEC audit hits next week, you won't be walking down the aisle, Victoria. You'll be testifying in court."
Victoria stumbled back, clutching her wrist. She looked at Arthur with horror. "Is... is that true?"
"Of course it's true," Elena adjusted her glasses. "I have the receipts."
She turned back to Catherine, who was now trembling with rage.
"I don't want your money, Catherine. I want your seat on the Board."
Elena leaned in, whispering into the older woman's ear.
"And I suggest you buy back your real diamond brooch from Christie's soon. It would be a shame if the tabloids found out the 'Queen of Blackwood Manor' is wearing paste."
Catherine gasped. She clutched the fake brooch at her throat, her face draining of all color.
Elena turned on her heel, her emerald dress swirling around her legs.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," she said, her voice ringing clear in the humid air. "It's getting a bit suffocating in here. I prefer the company of snakes that don't hide in the grass."
She pushed open the heavy glass doors and walked out into the cool, fresh air.
Behind her, in the Orchid House, there was chaos. Victoria was screaming at Arthur. Catherine was frantically dialing her banker.
Elena took a deep breath of oxygen. She looked across the lawn.
Julian was waiting for her by the fountain. He saw her emerge—unscathed, victorious, and terrifyingly beautiful. He raised his apple in a silent toast.
[SYSTEM ALERT] [MISSION COMPLETE: THE LION'S DEN] [REWARD: ENEMY MORALE BROKEN] [RELATIONSHIP STATUS: PARTNERS IN CRIME]
Elena smiled. The tea party was over. The war had just been won.