Chapter 3 Dance Sponsor

Ariana sat in the diner booth for ten minutes after the man left, staring at the crumpled document. The waitress came by to ask if she wanted anything. She ordered coffee just to have something to do with her hands.

When the coffee arrived, she pulled out her phone and called Martin Cole again. He answered on the third ring.

"I just got approached by someone claiming they framed my Dad," she said quietly. "They want two hundred thousand to make it go away."

Martin's voice turned sharp. "Where are you right now?"

"Diner on 5th and Maple. He just left."

"Stay there. I'm sending a colleague to pick you up."

She sipped the bitter coffee while waiting. Twenty minutes later, a woman in a navy pantsuit entered and walked straight to her table.

"Ariana Ross? I'm Lisa Grady, Martin's associate. Let's go."

They took a taxi to Martin's office. He was waiting behind his desk with two other men in suits when they arrived.

"What happened?" Martin asked.

Ariana repeated the conversation word for word and handed over the document. The men examined it carefully.

"This looks real," one of them said. "But we'll need to verify."

Martin leaned forward. "This can help. If we can prove the evidence was fabricated..."

"Can we afford to wait?" Ariana asked. "He gave me until Friday."

One of the other men spoke up. "We'll put a tail on you. If he contacts you again, we'll be ready."

Martin nodded. "In the meantime, act normal. Go home, get some rest. We'll handle the investigation from here."

Ariana took a taxi back to her apartment. As she unlocked the door, she noticed the light under Kiara's bedroom door was on. She pushed it open.

Kiara sat on her bed, suitcase open beside her. "I took an earlier train," she said.

Ariana sighed. "You shouldn't have come."

"I already called Grandpa's nurse. He's stable." Kiara stood up. "Now tell me what's really going on."

Ariana explained everything. Kiara listened quietly, then picked up her phone.

"I know someone who might help," she said. "My dance sponsor has connections."

Kiara held up her phone, the glow casting shadows on her face in the dark apartment. "Mr. Harris sponsors my education and dance scholarships. He owns half the commercial buildings in the city. If anyone can help fast, it's him."

Ariana rubbed her temples. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

"We go see him tomorrow. Explain the situation."

"And what do we offer in return? We have no money, no connections-"

"He likes talent," Kiara said simply. "Maybe you paint something for one of his buildings. Maybe I perform at an event. It's worth asking."

Ariana paced the small living room, her socked feet silent on the worn carpet. The electricity had come back on ten minutes ago, but neither of them had touched the lights.

"Fine," she finally said. "But we go together. And we leave if anything feels off."

The next morning found them standing outside a sleek downtown office building. Kiara smoothed her skirt nervously as they approached the reception desk.

"I'm Kiara Ross, Mr. Harris is expecting us," she told the receptionist.

The elevator ride to the top floor was silent. When the doors opened, they stepped into a spacious waiting area with floor-to-ceiling windows. A stern-looking secretary gestured them toward a heavy wooden door.

Sebastian Harris stood by the window, his back to them as they entered. He turned slowly, revealing sharp features and cold gray eyes that swept over them both before settling on Kiara.

"Miss Ross," he said. "I see you brought company."

Kiara swallowed. "My sister, Ariana. We need your help, Mr. Harris."

He gestured to the chairs in front of his massive desk. "Sit."

As they took their seats, Ariana studied the office-the modern art on the walls, the precisely arranged desk, the complete absence of personal items. Everything whispered control.

Sebastian steepled his fingers. "Speak."

Kiara laid out the facts quickly-their father's arrest, the fabricated charges, the demand for money. Sebastian Harris listened without interruption, his expression unreadable.

When she finished, he leaned back. "And what exactly do you expect me to do?"

Ariana spoke up. "We were hoping you might know someone who could help verify these documents are fake. Or point us toward legal representation that could-"

"I have better lawyers than your family could afford in ten lifetimes," Sebastian interrupted. "The question is-why should I involve myself?"

Kiara sat up straighter. "I'll dance at any event you want. For free. As many as you need."

Sebastian's lips twitched. "Not quite enough." His gaze shifted to Ariana. "You're the artist, yes? I've seen your work at the gallery on MM."

Ariana blinked in surprise. "You have?"

"I own the building." He stood and walked to a side table, pouring himself a glass of water. "Here's my proposal. Your sister performs at my annual gala next month. You, will create a mural for my new corporate headquarters. In return, I'll have my legal team look into your father's case."

Ariana hesitated. "Just look into it?"

Sebastian took a slow sip of water. "Let's see what they find first. Then we'll discuss next steps."

The sisters exchanged glances. It wasn't a complete solution, but it was more than they had.

"Deal," Ariana said.

Sebastian nodded and pressed a button on his desk. His secretary appeared instantly. "Draw up the agreements." As the woman left, he added, "My driver will take you home. I'll be in touch within forty-eight hours."

Back in the elevator, Kiara let out a shaky breath. "That went... better than I thought."

Ariana watched the floor numbers descend. "We just made a deal with a man we know nothing about."

"But he's our best shot," Kiara said softly.

The black town car dropped them outside their apartment building. As they walked up the stairs, Kiara checked her phone. "Martin called twice while we were in the meeting."

Ariana unlocked their door. "Call him back. Tell him we might have new legal help, but don't mention Mr. Harris yet."

While Kiara made the call, Ariana went to her art supplies and began sorting through her sketchbooks. She needed to start planning the mural for Harris's headquarters.

Kiara came in fifteen minutes later, tossing her phone on the couch. "Martin said the police returned Dad's personal items from his office. Just some files and his laptop. They're holding it at the station for us."

Ariana looked up from her sketches. "We should go get it. There might be something useful."