“The Yamato Group representative always stays at the Carlyle,” I said.

“He is meeting them in person,” Julian said.

“He is going to hand over the physical notebooks tonight,” I said.

My stomach tightened into a knot.

If those books left the country, my family’s legacy would be gone forever.

“Priya,” Julian said into the speaker. “Are you still there?”

“I am,” Priya said. “The Swiss bank just paused the wire transfer for a security check.”

“How much time do we have?” Julian asked.

“Twenty minutes,” Priya said. “Maybe less if Bennett’s contact bypasses the alert.”

“We need to get to the Carlyle,” I said to Thomas.

“I am on it, Mrs. Whitlock,” Thomas said, steering the car onto the FDR Drive.

The city lights smeared across the wet side windows.

I looked at my reflection in the dark glass.

I had spent ten years building this empire with Bennett.

He had taken my name, my money, and my pride.

I would not let him take the only thing my father had left me.

“Julian,” I said. “If he hands over those notebooks, can we charge him with theft?”