Chapter 11 - THE COUNTER-STRIKE
By eight o'clock that night, news of the federal lawsuit against Vance Foundation broke across financial networks.
CNBC reported live from outside the Federal Courthouse in Manhattan, detailing allegations of charitable fraud against Arthur Vance.
Inside the Vance estate, Arthur slammed his telephone receiver down onto the cradle with a deafening crash.
"You idiot!" Arthur yelled at Elena, who was standing near the fireplace in her silk robe.
"You targeted her brother and gave Sterling the exact legal opening he needed to audit our charitable trust!" Arthur raged.
"I was trying to protect our family honor, Dad!" Elena shouted back, her voice crackling with defensive anger.
"You destroyed our leverage!" Arthur barked. "The SEC is going to freeze our foundation assets by morning!"
Elena clutched her wine glass tightly, her mind racing as she realized her personal vendetta was spiraling out of control.
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"Then we execute the backup plan," Elena whispered viciously. "We release the photos from the night Maya's father died."
***
