Chapter 9 - The Seizure of Assets
The next morning, the Sterling estate was surrounded by black SUVs.
Bank officials and moving crews marched into the mansion.
They began labeling everything with bright red "Seized" stickers.
Victoria ran around the house, trying to hide her expensive jewelry.
"You can't take this! This is mine!" she screamed at an officer.
"Everything purchased with the company's credit line is now bank property, ma'am," the officer replied coldly.
They took the paintings, the silver, and even the Baccarat crystal display Chloe had broken.
Julian sat on the curb outside, his head in his hands, completely broken.
His friends were blocking his number, his mistress had already left him.
He was ruined, publicly and completely.
The news of the Sterling bankruptcy was trending all over the financial networks.
The public laughed at their sudden fall from grace.
Julian looked at his phone, seeing the digital invitation to the Vance Gala.
It was tonight.
"Mother," Julian said, standing up with a crazy look in his eyes.
"We still have the invitations to the gala. We can go there."
"We can beg her father. Surely Arthur Vance has mercy!"
Victoria looked up, a glimmer of desperate hope in her eyes.
"Yes! Yes, Julian! We will go. We will beg for forgiveness."
They didn't realize that entering that gala would be their final public execution.
They dressed in the only expensive clothes they had left.
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They drove a cheap rental car to the grand ballroom in Manhattan.
They were walking straight into the lions' den.
