Chapter 3
The yellow cab rolled through the towering wrought-iron gates of Wentworth Manor. The driver parked near the imposing stone steps.
A man in an immaculate charcoal suit stepped forward and pulled my door open.
"Welcome home, Madam President," Julian said, offering a slight bow.
"Skip the formalities, Julian," I said, stepping onto the paved driveway. "Do you have the files?"
He handed me a heavy leather briefcase. "Three years of Marcus's corporate ledgers, bank statements, and wire transfers. Every penny he spent is documented right here."
"Did he suspect anything?" I asked, walking toward the massive front doors.
"Not a thing," Julian confirmed, matching my pace. "He believes his angel investor operates out of a blind trust in the Caymans. He has no idea you control the purse strings."
"Good." I grabbed the brass handle. "Is the feed up?"
"Waiting for you in the study."
My flats slapped against the polished marble floor of the foyer. I pushed open the double doors to the study and tossed the briefcase onto the massive mahogany desk. I snapped the latches open and spread the financial statements across the smooth wood.
Julian followed me inside, carrying a tablet. He tapped the glass screen twice.
The wall-mounted monitor flared to life.
"Audio is syncing now," Julian announced, adjusting a dial on his device. "I tapped into the restaurant's security system as soon as they made the reservation."
The footage sharpened into high-definition color. Marcus sat at a corner booth inside *L’Orchidée*, the most expensive Michelin-star restaurant in the city. Chloe sat pressed against his side. Leo and Mia occupied the opposite bench.
"He didn't waste any time," Julian observed, his tone dry.
"He thinks he just won the lottery," I replied, scanning a bank statement. "Look at this ledger, Julian. He expensed a fifty-thousand-dollar watch as a 'marketing consultation' last Tuesday."
"Fraud is often the first resort of an incompetent CEO."
"He isn't just incompetent," I corrected, pointing at the screen. "He's arrogant. He stole my money to buy his mistress jewelry, then called me crazy for turning off the heating at home."
Static crackled from the ceiling speakers, followed by the ambient hum of the busy restaurant.
"Order whatever you want, kids," Marcus boasted on the feed. He waved a leather-bound menu in the air. "We are celebrating a brand-new chapter. No more budgeting. No more living like peasants."
"Can I get the wagyu steak?" Leo asked, his voice timid.
"Get two," Chloe chimed in. She flagged down a passing server. "Excuse me. We need a bottle of your best vintage champagne. The Dom Pérignon. And make sure it's properly chilled this time. I hate warm bubbles."
The waiter nodded politely and hurried away.
"You're amazing, Chloe," Mia said, grinning at the woman who had just stolen her mother's life. "Mom would have made us share a tap water."
"Your mother means well, sweetie," Chloe replied, her tone laced with fake sympathy. "She just doesn't understand how to enjoy success."
My chest tightened. I reached for the porcelain mug resting on the edge of the desk. The black coffee inside had gone completely cold. I took a massive gulp anyway. The bitter, harsh liquid slid down my throat, forcing my hazy brain into absolute clarity.
The physical detachment of ripping my family out of my heart felt like peeling skin from bone. My neck muscles strained, pulling taut against my collar. For a decade, I wore threadbare sweaters and skipped meals so Marcus could build his dream company. I funneled my inherited wealth into his shell accounts, masking my identity so his fragile ego wouldn't bruise.
Now, he sat there mocking me.
"They seem to be enjoying your money," Julian noted, watching my fingers curl into tight fists against the desk.
"Not for long," I said. A short, abrupt laugh escaped my lips. It sounded hollow, completely devoid of humor.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "Shall I shut down the restaurant's power grid?"
"Don't be dramatic. Just wait for the check."
I spent the next forty-five minutes organizing the ledgers. Ten years of my life, printed in black ink.
"Dessert is finished," Julian interrupted.
On the screen, the waiter placed a black leather folder on Marcus's table.
Marcus reached for it, but Chloe playfully swatted his hand away.
"I've got this one, baby," Chloe cooed. "Consider it a treat for finally getting rid of the dead weight."
Marcus chuckled, kissing her cheek. "You spoil me."
Chloe opened her designer handbag and pulled out a sleek, metallic black card. She dropped it onto the tray with a loud clatter.
"Keep the change," she told the waiter.
I tapped my fingernail against the mahogany desk.
"Julian," I said, keeping my voice deadpan.
"Yes, Madam President?"
"That is the secondary card linked to the offshore trust."
"It is."
"Cut the authorization. Right now."
Julian swiped a finger across his tablet. "Done. The card is officially a piece of useless plastic."
I leaned forward, bracing my hands on the edge of the desk. I didn't want to miss a single second of this.
On the monitor, the waiter walked over to the POS terminal. He swiped the black card. The machine beeped. He frowned, tapped the screen, and swiped it again.
"He's running it a third time," Julian narrated.
"It won't help," I said.
The waiter picked up the leather folder and walked back to the corner booth. He leaned down, whispering discreetly to Marcus.
"I'm sorry, sir. The card was declined."
The audio feed picked up the exact moment Marcus's smug smile vanished. His face flushed a deep, mottled red.
"Declined?" Marcus repeated loudly, abandoning any attempt at discretion. "That's impossible. Run it again."
"I tried three times, sir. The system says the account is frozen."
Chloe snatched the card from the tray. "Your machine is broken. Do you know who he is? He owns a tech empire!"
"I apologize, ma'am, but I need another form of payment. The bill is four thousand, two hundred dollars."
Mia shrank into her seat. Leo pulled his baseball cap down over his eyes, hiding his face.
"Give me the check," Marcus snapped, snatching the folder. He dug into his wallet and pulled out his personal platinum credit card. He tossed it onto the table. "Use this one. And I'm speaking to your manager about this embarrassment."
"Julian," I prompted.
"Already handled," Julian replied smoothly. "Elias Thorne initiated a total freeze on all his domestic accounts ten minutes ago."
The waiter returned less than a minute later. His expression hardened into a mask of professional annoyance.
"Sir, this card is also declined," the waiter announced, loud enough for the neighboring tables to hear.
Marcus stood up, knocking his chair backward. "Are you calling me a liar?"
"I'm asking you to pay your bill, sir."
Chloe tugged on Marcus's sleeve. "Just call the bank, Marcus. Tell them to fix it."
"I will," Marcus growled, his face contorted with rage. "I'm going to get someone fired for this."
I watched my ex-husband pace in front of the restaurant table. He shoved a hand into his pocket and yanked out his smartphone. He punched the screen violently.
"He's calling his private banker," Julian guessed.
"No," I said, tracking Marcus's furious movements on the monitor. "He doesn't call the bank when things go wrong. He calls his silent investor. He calls his safety net."
Marcus lifted the phone to his ear.
Instantly, the backup cell phone sitting on the far corner of my mahogany desk began to vibrate.
The screen lit up the dark room.
The caller ID flashed in bright, undeniable letters.
*Incoming Call: Marcus Vance.*
You may also like
