Just as his palm was about to connect with my face, Phineas burst through, shouting in panic.
"Mr. Gilbert! We have a problem! The stock price that was surging—it's plummeting!"
Elwin glanced at the numbers. The color drained from his face. When he looked back at Arnold and me, his gaze was murderous.
"Maureen! I'm giving you one last chance to stop this. Become my honorary sister, or if Starlight Corporation goes down, we're taking this to the grave!"
"Then I'll be watching."
Elwin was certain that even if Arnold and I joined forces, we couldn't cause any real damage.
But the stock continued its freefall. Within five minutes, it had crashed—and made the top headline in financial news.
Elwin's eyes went bloodshot with rage. He lunged at me, his hands closing around my throat like a vise.
"Maureen, what the hell did you two do?"
"I was willing to call you my sister—what more do you want from me?"
Arnold threw himself forward to help me, but Elwin kicked him down again. Blood sprayed from Arnold's mouth as he hit the ground.
Yet Arnold laughed through the pain.
"Touch her again, Elwin. I dare you. You're finished."