Chains Of His Empire

eased costs. Two of their regular customers had stopped coming in, their accounts mysteriously closed. The artist who had wanted to display her sculptures had withdraw

ction. Elara wasn't naive enough to believe in coincidence. Someone was systematic

room, a small kitchen, and a living room that doubled as her studio. But it was hers, paid for with money she had earned through freelance digital design work that she did late into

ned anger. Chloe worked in the art world too, as a gallery manager for a more prestigious establishment in Chelsea. She had con

been a lot of chatter about Thorne Global acquiring properties in SoHo. They're buying up build

"Thorne Global? That's Julian

willing to do things that other people won't. There are rumors about his methods of int

tly. "About three weeks ago. He said he w

"Jesus, Elara. You t

r sharp. "The gallery is my father's life. It's all he has left. I can't just s

you're not equipped to fight someone like Julian Thorne. He has resources,

ad always known that her situation was precarious, that one wrong move could topple everyth

can do," Elara said despera

ng you should. I'm just saying you need to be smart abo

initially in traditional mediums like painting and sculpture, but increasingly in digital formats. Her work was good, really good. She had won competitions, had

ness tactics. She didn't have his resources or his ruthlessness. But she could fight him on her own terms. She cou

futile. But it