Chapter 66 Solomon Grant's Price
Eva sat in the dark study, her thoughts spinning with everything she had just discovered.
There was an old partner and a hidden son. The idea of involving either one made Eva uneasy, increasing her uncertainty but also sparking a careful hope.
She started thinking about the risks and opportunities, knowing that either could help her stop the Architect.
For a moment, fear felt heavy in her chest—but even with the worry, a small hope started to grow.
Maybe, with help from either the old partner or the hidden son, Eva could finally face the threat from the woman determined to change the world.
The puzzle was becoming more complicated.
Still, even the hardest puzzle could be solved by someone determined to keep searching for the missing pieces.
She only needed to find the right pieces.
The next day, Eva returned to the Velvet Room.
Solomon Grant invited her into his private office, his round face calm and polite.
The strong smell of polished wood mixed with hints of tobacco made the office feel warm and a little nostalgic.
Below, the thick carpet softened the sound of Eva's steps, making the room feel quiet and private.
As he sat behind his dark wooden desk, Grant tapped his fingers on the armrest, each soft tap showing he was thinking deeply.
But Eva saw the careful thought in his eyes as he considered what she wanted and what it might be worth.
"Mrs. Cavanaugh." He gestured to a chair. "Twice in one week to my humble abode. I'm honored."
"Mr. Grant, let's skip the pleasantries. You know why I'm here."
"I have my suspicions." His smile widened. "But I prefer to hear things directly."
"I want information on the Architect's former partner. The one who helped her build the Consortium. I need to find him."
Grant's expression shifted for a moment. Surprise flashed across his face, then turned to calculation.
"Mrs. Cavanaugh, you know that's a dangerous request. Don't you?"
"I'm well aware."
"Then you must also know what's at stake? My price will not be low…"
"I have come prepared. Whatever you want, if I can provide it, I'll do my utmost to fulfill your request."
"Okay, so the man you're looking for has been hiding for more than twenty years. Almost no one knows he's still alive." Grant pressed his fingers together. "Why do you think I can find him?"
"Because selling information is your business. And if the Architect succeeds with her plans, your way of working will no longer work." Eva leaned forward.
"Even though I have only met her once, I can say she does not want brokers or middlemen. She wants full control. How long do you think the Velvet Room will survive in her new world?"
Something shifted in Grant's eyes. For the first time, Eva saw more than polite thinking. There was a brief flash of real worry.
"You're more perceptive than I gave you credit for."
"I'm learning." Eva sat back. "So. Can you find him?"
A long pause.
"His name is Marcus Cole. He and the Architect, whose real name is Catherine Bell, built the early Consortium together in the 1980s. They were partners in every way. Business. Beliefs." Grant's voice lowered. "And love."
"They were lovers?" Eva's eyes widened in surprise.
"For almost ten years. Then their ideas for the organization split." Grant's face grew serious.
"Catherine wanted to grow and change a global network that could reshape entire governments. Marcus wanted something smaller and easier to manage. Their disagreement became violent."
"What happened?"
"Catherine tried to kill him. She almost succeeded. He was shot three times and left to die in a warehouse fire. But he barely survived and vanished from the world." Grant spread his hands. "He's spent the last twenty-three years hiding from her, waiting for a chance to fight back."
"Where is he now?"
"Everything I told you so far has one cost. But the information you are asking for now has a different cost."
"Name it. What do you want?"
Grant's friendly smile returned. "I want your protection. If the Architect succeeds and takes full control of the Consortium, she will get rid of anyone who stands in her way—including those who deal in information."
Eva knew it was true.
"I would be exposed and open to attack. My position, my job, and my life would all be in danger right away."
"You want me to protect you from the Architect?" Eva asked.
"Yes, I want you to include me in the alliance you're building. A spot in the group once things settle down." Grant's eyes shone.
"I've survived in this world for thirty years by watching carefully and adjusting to change. Right now, I believe you and your family are the best chance to stand against Catherine Bell. I want to be on the winning side."
Eva considered the offer.
Grant was selfish and untrustworthy, always looking after himself. Eva's fingers tapped nervously on the edge of her chair as she hesitated, her eyes glancing toward the door.
Doubt filled her chest, each memory of Grant's weak loyalty and past betrayals coming back quickly.
She studied his face, looking for any sign of dishonesty, knowing he always planned to benefit himself.
But without his help, they would be lost. The information he had might be the difference between stopping the Architect and letting her change their world.
Eva pushed down her doubts, telling herself to stay alert, but a nagging fear twisted inside her, warning that one wrong step could put everything in danger.
If they were going to build a team against the Architect, they would need people who knew the Consortium well.
"Deal," she said. "But if you betray us or sell information to the Architect or anyone else, there will be consequences."
"You'll ruin me. Yes, I understand." Grant's smile stayed the same. "Staying alive is my main goal, Mrs. Cavanaugh. You can count on me as long as helping you is the safest option. I'll stay loyal."
"Fair enough. Now, where is Marcus Cole?"
Grant pulled a slip of paper from his desk drawer and slid it across to her.
An address. Somewhere in the countryside of Vermont.
"He lives under the name Thomas Wright. He runs a small bookstore in a town no one has heard of. He keeps to himself to stay hidden, always pays in cash, and has no online presence." Grant's face grew serious.
"He's careful for a good reason. If you approach him the wrong way, he'll vanish before you realize it."
Eva listened closely, already trying to imagine how she would find her way into Marcus Cole's world without making him bolt.
So much could go wrong if she started on the wrong foot. Should she pose as a customer? Should she tell him what she knew right away, or try to gain his trust first?
The uncertainty bothered her. She would need to plan every step—to find the right balance between caution and honesty. One mistake, and her only chance to stop Catherine might disappear forever.
"Oh, how do I approach him right?"