chapter680
Thalassa stood firmly on the platform, her hand gripping the heavy manual brake of the zip line. Suspended mid-air, Bruce looked back at her, his face pale as the reality of his position set in. He was seated in a standard safety harness, but the vast abyss stretching beneath him made the sturdy straps feel like gossamer threads.
The zip line operated on a precise mechanical balance. With her experience as a former part-time operator at Phoenix Mountain, Thalassa knew exactly how to manage the descent. Without a controlled release, the passenger would lose the gradual momentum needed for a safe landing on the opposite peak.
“Thalassa, let’s be reasonable,” Bruce called out, his voice trembling as he tried to maintain his typical facade of charm. “Lower me down slowly, and we can discuss everything like civilized people.”
“We’ve discussed this many times, Bruce,” Thalassa replied, her voice steady and clear against the mountain wind. She loosened her grip on the brake just enough to let him slide a few feet further into the void.
“Wait! No!” Bruce cried out, clutching his harness. The sudden movement shattered his remaining composure.
“The funds you took from Evelyn need to be returned,” Thalassa said, her expression set in a mask of grim determination. “I’m not here for excuses. I’m here for restitution.”
She had meticulously planned this meeting. Knowing Bruce was a man who valued his own security above all else, she chose this environment to strip away his sense of control. This wasn't about malice; it was about reversing the damage he had caused to her family and to the Sinclairs.
“Thalassa, think about what you’re doing,” Bruce pleaded, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool altitude. “You wouldn't risk your own future over this.”
“I’m not risking anything,” Thalassa countered calmly. “I am simply ensuring that justice is served where the legal system has been too slow to act. You’ve spent a lifetime persuading people to trust you with their futures—now, you have to decide if you trust yourself enough to do the right thing.”
Bruce looked down at the sheer drop, his breath hitching. He realized then that Thalassa wasn't the naive target he once thought she was. She had learned the cold, decisive language of power, using the very terrain to force a confession that no boardroom meeting could elicit.
“Fine! I’ll arrange the transfer!” Bruce yelled, his voice cracking. “Just bring me back to the platform!”
Thalassa didn't move. She watched him with a clinical detachment, waiting for the digital confirmation that the cycle of deception had finally been broken. On this mountain, amidst the clouds and the wind, the truth was the only thing that carried any weight.