Chapter 68 Marcus's Story
"I know she's taken control of the Consortium. I know she plans a 'global transformation.' She threatened my family on my wedding night." Eva's voice tightened with anger and worry, and her fists clenched in her lap. "That's about all."
Marcus nodded slowly. "Then let me fill in the gaps."
He stood up and walked over to the wall, where a large photograph showed a younger version of himself next to a striking woman with silver-blonde hair and ice-blue eyes.
"Catherine and I met in 1982. I was a young financier who didn't always follow the rules. She was a brilliant strategist who believed the world was run by the wrong people." His voice became distant.
"I still remember our first job together. We were in a smoky Berlin café, drawing maps and names on napkins while plotting a takeover of an international company."
"Catherine noticed things that nobody else could see. She would watch everything for a few minutes and pointed out a section that was the weak link, and all we needed was the right pressure at the right time."
"That day, she smiled like she was solving a math problem. Her eyes were innocent, and I thought she was pure."
Eva found it hard to align Marcus's memories with her own view of Catherine; the idea of Catherine as pure and innocent was very different from the clever, strong woman she knew.
"That night, as we walked along the river, she told me, 'People are always caged by rules, Marcus; they never choose. If you want to change the world, you have to break some rules and make your own.' And I believed her."
"I heard you were in love for almost a decade."
"Is that so? I guess we were together, but I'm not sure it was love." He stared at the photo for a while. "We fell in love. Or maybe only I did. I'm not sure Catherine can feel love the way most people do."
"What does she want?"
"She's always wanted control. Not just over money or organizations, but over the basic systems that keep society running."
"She wants to control governments, economies, and information systems. She thinks they are all inefficient and corrupt, made to help a few people at the expense of everyone else."
"That sounds almost idealistic."
"It is idealistic. That's what makes her dangerous." Marcus looked at Eva. "Catherine truly believes she's doing the right thing. She thinks her plan will make the world better, and that any pain she causes is worth the greater good she's aiming for."
"That's insane. What is her vision of society, exactly?"
"A world without freedom. A place where everything is run and controlled by people who think they know best." His face darkened. "People like her would make all the big decisions, and everyone else would just obey without asking questions."
Eva felt cold. "That's tyranny."
"It's efficient tyranny. Catherine has always cared most about getting things done quickly and getting them right." Marcus sat down again.
"When we were building the Consortium, she wanted to move faster, grow bigger, and take more risks. I wanted to be more careful and go slower. That argument turned into a fight that almost got me killed."
"She tried to kill you just because you disagreed with her ideals?"
"She did more than try. Believe me, she's crazy. She doesn't need much of a reason to get rid of someone."
"I can understand. Based on my experience with her, she is exactly the type to do that."
"Yeah," Marcus said with a short laugh. "Catherine tied me to a chair so I couldn't escape and shot me three times."
"Dear lord," Eva said, shocked. How could she do that? Eva had thought it was an accident, but now it sounded like a planned murder.
Marcus watched her and continued, "To cover up what she did, she set the building I was in on fire and left, thinking I was dead." He touched his chest, and Eva saw a scar above his collar. "I survived only because a firefighter found me before the fire did."
"And you've been hiding ever since."
"Yes. I've been gathering resources and information, just waiting for the right time." He looked at her. "I've spent twenty-three years getting ready to take back everything she stole from me. But I never found the right chance until now."
"Until me?"
"Until you. To be honest, I've been watching you. I've watched all of Catherine's victims. And you are different from the rest. While everyone else gave in to their power, you stood your ground."
"I know you took down Helena Park and dealt with Victor Chen. You're someone who refused to bow to the most powerful shadow organization in the world." He almost smiled.
Eva was surprised he knew about what she had done.
"Catherine made a mistake when she threatened your children. She thought she was dealing with another victim she could control. She doesn't realize she's awakened a lioness."
Eva felt something change inside her. It wasn't quite hope, but it was close.
"Do you have any idea how to beat her?"
"Of course, you just need to find her weakness."
"Which is?"
Marcus stayed silent for a long moment.
"Her son," he said finally. "The one Victor Chen already told you about."
"No, I won't threaten an innocent person."
"I'm not saying you should threaten him. I'm saying you should try to get to know him." Marcus leaned forward.
"Catherine Bell has spent forty years being the most ruthless person in any room. She's gotten rid of rivals, destroyed enemies, and given up everything and everyone to reach her goals. But her son, Daniel, she's kept him completely separate from her work. Protected and hidden."
"Why?"
"Because she loves him. In her own strange way, she really does love him." Marcus's expression was hard to read.
"Daniel doesn't know what his mother really is. He thinks she's a retired businesswoman living quietly in Switzerland. He has no idea about the Consortium, the assassinations, or the years of manipulation and control."
Eva took in this information. "So her weakness is... the same as mine. Her desire to protect her son from the truth?"
"Exactly. Catherine has spent forty years building walls between her real life and how Daniel sees her. If those walls broke down, if Daniel found out who his mother really is, it would destroy her in ways that losing money or power never could."
"You want me to expose her to her own son."
"I want you to see that Catherine Bell isn't unbeatable. She has something she cares about more than her big plans. Something that makes her weak." Marcus leaned back in his chair. "What you do with that information is your choice."
Eva was quiet for a long moment, processing everything she'd learned.
A son who didn't know the truth. A mother who had hidden her darkest side for years. A weakness that had nothing to do with money, power, or influence.
"There has to be another way," she said finally. "Something that doesn't involve destroying a family relationship."
"There might be."