Chapter 5 - STRIPPING THE EMPIRE
By two o'clock in the morning, the last of the gala guests had been politely ushered out by estate security.
Ethan sat in his private mahogany library, sipping dark scotch while reviewing financial spreadsheets on his tablet.
Arthur Pendelton, his chief legal counsel, stood before the massive fireplace holding a stack of corporate revocation orders.
"Eleanor’s husband is frantically calling from his hotel in Washington, begging for a meeting," Arthur reported.
"Tell him his wife’s bail hearing is set for eight AM, and I’m buying out his firm's distressed debt at dawn," Ethan replied smoothly.
"If you liquidate their real estate holdings, the Montgomery family will lose their Fifth Avenue penthouse," Arthur noted.
"Good," Ethan said, leaning back in his leather armchair. "They used their wealth to trample on helpless people for decades."
Upstairs in the east wing nursery, Hannah was tucking Chloe into her bed beneath a soft wool blanket.
The four-year-old girl held a small stuffed bear tightly, her eyelids growing heavy after the traumatic night.
"Will the mean lady with the red hair ever come back, Hannah?" Chloe whispered, clutching the blanket.
May you like
"Never, sweetheart," Hannah promised softly, smoothing down Chloe’s light brown hair. "Mr. Ethan made sure of that."
***
