Chapter 5
At a private cigar lounge in Soho, Julian Sterling sat in a leather booth, swirling a glass of aged bourbon.
Evelyn paced back and forth in front of him, her crimson gown rumpled and ruined from the rain.
"She showed up at the hotel, Julian!" Evelyn spat out, her voice trembling with furious panic.
"She had the gold-sealed deed! Harrison threw me out in front of fifty reporters!"
Julian set his glass down on the mahogany table with a quiet, dangerous click.
"Calm down, Evelyn," Julian ordered, his dark eyes cold and calculating.
"A piece of paper doesn't change the fact that we control the bank accounts."
"The New York State Treasury frozen the central liquidity fund three days ago under my authorization."
Evelyn leaned across the table, her fingernails digging into the polished wood.
"You don't understand, Julian! She wasn't scared of us!" Evelyn whispered, her eyes wide with terror.
"She looked at me like I was nothing!"
Julian pulled his silver smartphone from his pocket, dialing an encrypted number.
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"Judge Sterling will sign an emergency injunction freezing her inheritance by morning," Julian said smoothly.
"By the time the sun rises over Manhattan, Charlotte Vance will be broke, discredited, and back in handcuffs."
