Chapter 6 - THE BETRAYAL OF ARTHUR VANCE
Seated across from me at the mahogany dining table,
Agent Marcus Vance opened a pristine leather folder and placed several certified banking transcripts before me.
The five corporate mercenaries had already been taken downtown,
leaving behind only the faint scent of expensive cologne and simmering panic.
Victoria remained slumped on the Persian rug in the corner of the room,
staring blankly at the crystal chandelier as the reality of her ruined empire finally set in.
"Arthur Vance is already cooperating with the district attorney,"
Agent Marcus Vance informed me in a low,
professional tone.
"He's willing to testify that your mother and Richard orchestrated the entire asset diversion scheme over the past six months."
"I expected nothing less from a lawyer of his caliber,"
I replied,
taking a sip of mineral water poured from a crystal pitcher.
"Self-preservation is always the first instinct of a corrupt professional."
"What do you want us to do with the remaining assets on the property,
Colonel?"
Agent Vance asked,
gesturing toward the massive estate surrounding us.
"Freeze everything under federal receivership,"
I instructed without a moment's hesitation.
"Every bank account,
every commercial property in Boston,
and every single asset tied to Julian's restaurant shell corporations."
Across the room,
Julian struggled to his feet,
his clothes rumpled and his face pale with humiliation.
"You can't take my restaurants,
Sienna!"
he shouted,
his voice cracking with desperation.
"Those employees depend on me!
People will lose their jobs!"
"Those employees will be absorbed by a legitimate corporate restructuring managed by Dad's original trustees,"
I retorted,
turning my gaze sharply toward him.
"People lost their life savings because you wanted to play high-stakes real estate mogul with stolen capital."
Victoria finally stirred from the floor,
her voice trembling with a mixture of grief and venom.
"You always hated this family,
didn't you?"
she spat out,
refusing to accept responsibility even at the absolute end.
"You put on that uniform because you never belonged here."
"You're right,
Mother,"
I said,
May you like
standing up from the table and smoothing down my crisp white blouse.
"I never belonged in a family that measured human worth by bank balances and fraudulent signatures."
