Chapter 8 - The Public Collapse
By Thursday morning, the Bennett family’s downfall had become the primary topic of conversation among Denver’s elite social circles.
Brooke walked into her favorite high-end boutique in Cherry Creek, attempting to return a three-thousand-dollar leather handbag for cash.
The store manager looked up from the computer register with an unsmiling, professional stare.
"I'm sorry, Miss Bennett, but this purchase was made using a credit card that has been flagged as fraudulent by federal authorities," the manager said.
"We cannot process a cash refund, and under store policy regarding flagged accounts, we must retain the merchandise."
Brooke's eyes filled with tears of pure embarrassment as several prominent socialites turned to stare at her.
"Do you know who my father is?!" Brooke hissed, her voice trembling with frantic indignation.
"Yes, Miss Bennett," a woman nearby remarked dryly, sipping her espresso.
"He's the man who got kicked out of his daughter-in-law's penthouse by the police on New Year's Day."
Brooke grabbed her coat and ran out of the store into the freezing winter rain, sobbing hysterically into her scarf.
She called her mother, Diane, who was currently staying in a cheap two-star motel near the airport using cash she had scraped together.
"Mom, everyone knows!" Brooke cried into the receiver. "My friends blocked my number! My credit cards are decline!"
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"Your father is at the police station trying to arrange Ryan's second bail hearing," Diane sobbed, sitting on the edge of a stained mattress.
"Claire took everything, Brooke... she took the car, the accounts, the house... everything!"
