Chapter 4 - The Sterling Storm
Victor pulled a sleek tablet from his jacket and tapped the screen.
"As of five minutes ago,"
Victor announced,
his voice carrying to every corner of the room.
"Sterling Holdings has exercised its right of foreclosure on all outstanding loans."
"Every contract,
every lease,
and every piece of equipment in this building is now property of the Sterling family."
Arthur let out a choking sound.
"That’s impossible!"
"We have a merger agreement!"
"Your merger was based on a lie,
Arthur,"
Alexander interjected,
stepping forward.
"Dominic represented himself as a single man with full authority."
"But since he is married to a Sterling,
any major financial decision requires my sister's signature."
"Which she never gave."
I looked at Dominic,
who was clutching the railing so hard his knuckles were white.
"You thought I was just a powerless wife,"
I said,
my voice steady.
"You thought you could hide me in a cottage while you played king."
"But I am the reason you have a crown,
Dominic."
"Every investor you met was sent by my brothers."
"Every 'lucky' break you had was a phone call from Victor."
"We didn't help you because you were brilliant,"
"we helped you because we loved Vivienne."
Elena was shaking now,
her red dress shimmering with her tremors.
"Dominic,
tell them they're lying!"
she screamed.
"Tell them you own this!"
Dominic couldn't even look at her.
He looked at me,
his eyes full of a desperate,
pathetic hope.
"Vivienne,
please,"
he whispered.
"For Sophia."
"Don't you dare use her name,"
I snapped,
the fire in my chest finally erupting.
"You haven't seen her in three weeks."
"You missed her dance recital for a 'business trip' that was actually a vacation with this woman."
"You are a ghost to her now,
Dominic."
Victor turned to the board members,
who were practically shaking.
"This gala is over,"
Victor said.
"My security team will escort everyone out of the building."
"Except for Dominic,
Arthur,
and Elena."
"We have some papers for you to sign."
The room began to clear instantly.
People didn't just leave,
they fled.
Nobody wanted to be caught in the Sterling crossfire.
Chloe,
who had been so smug just minutes ago,
was trying to sneak out with the crowd.
Marcus stepped in her way.
"Not so fast,
Chloe,"
he said,
his voice cold.
"We’ve been reviewing your personal expenses on the company card."
"It seems you’ve been living quite a luxury life on Sterling money."
"The police are waiting in the lobby."
Chloe went ashen,
her knees buckling as the guards took her arms.
May you like
The storm had arrived,
and it was beautiful.
