Chapter 47 - The Glass Fortress
Claire breezed through the heavily armed security checkpoints at the mansion’s entrance. The guards, relying entirely on their advanced biometric scanners, saw only the falsified credentials of a European heiress broadcasted by Claire's contact lenses. She stepped into the grand ballroom. The air was thick with the scent of expensive champagne and the intoxicating arrogance of limitless wealth. It was a sickening replica of the Beaumont Country Club. Lord Julian Sterling stood near a massive ice sculpture, laughing with corrupt politicians and shadow brokers. Claire felt a surge of bile in her throat, but her heart rate remained perfectly calm. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, blending seamlessly into the crowd of monsters.
She drifted gracefully toward the restricted corridors at the back of the mansion. Using a stolen keycard acquired by Marcus’s underground contacts, she slipped through a heavy security door and descended into the sub-levels. The main server room hummed with the same ominous blue light as Vance’s bunker. Claire moved with practiced, lethal efficiency. She pulled four blocks of C-4 military explosives from the lining of a false-bottomed clutch purse, attaching them to the load-bearing pillars of the foundation.
As she armed the final detonator, the heavy steel door behind her hissed open. Claire froze, her hand hovering over the explosive. Standing in the doorway was Lord Julian Sterling himself, accompanied by two massive, armed bodyguards. Sterling’s cold eyes locked onto Claire, a cruel, mocking smile spreading across his aristocratic face. "Claire Beaumont," Sterling purred, stepping into the room. "Or should I say, Claire Reed? Did you really think my facial recognition algorithms wouldn't flag a ghost? You walked directly into your own grave." The two bodyguards raised their weapons. Claire slowly stood up, her crimson dress pooling around her feet. She didn't panic. She smiled back. "You're right, Lord Sterling," Claire whispered. "I brought a grave. But it isn't mine."
