Chapter 5 - The Hostage Move
Brandon and Victoria spent forty-eight hours marinading in panic and rage. With Brandon’s corporate revenue cut off and his personal accounts locked under emergency federal review, his lavish lifestyle was collapsing like a house of cards.
“We need leverage,” Victoria declared, sitting in her plush living room as a repo crew seized Brandon’s luxury sports car from her driveway. “If Evelyn wants her precious daughters back, she will have to make her father call off his hounds!”
“They aren't at the house!” Brandon shouted. “I went there last night! The locks were changed, and two federal marshals were standing on the porch!”
“Then find out where they are!” Victoria snapped. “The girls go to Saint Margaret’s Private Academy! You are their father! You have full legal parental rights until a judge says otherwise! Go to the school and pick them up before Evelyn files for emergency custody!”
Brandon’s eyes lit up with predatory desperation. “You’re right. The school doesn't know about the frozen accounts yet. I can pull them out of class!”
At 10:00 AM the following morning, Brandon arrived at Saint Margaret’s Private Academy. He smoothed down his wrinkled suit jacket, trying to maintain his usual arrogant executive aura as he walked into the headmaster’s office.
“Good morning, Principal Davis,” Brandon announced smoothly. “I’m here to check out my four daughters for a family emergency.”
Principal Davis, a stern woman in her late fifties, didn't look up from her computer screen. “Mr. Miller. I’ve been expecting you.”
“Great. Please have them brought to the front desk immediately.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Principal Davis said, finally raising her eyes. There was no warmth in them.
Brandon’s face darkened. “Excuse me? I am their father! I pay the tuition here! You have no legal authority to hold my children!”
“Correction, Mr. Miller,” Principal Davis replied calmly, pressing a button on her desk phone. “You used to pay the tuition. As of eight o’clock this morning, Saint Margaret’s Academy has been acquired by the Vance Educational Foundation. Furthermore, a temporary emergency court order was delivered to this office thirty minutes ago.”
Two uniformed state troopers walked into the office, standing flanking the door.
“What temporary order? That’s impossible!” Brandon yelled.
Principal Davis pulled a stamped legal document from a folder and slid it across the desk. “An ex parte protection order signed by Senior District Judge Robert Vance. Due to pending felony charges of domestic battery, financial fraud, and child endangerment, you are prohibited from coming within one thousand feet of Sophia, Chloe, Maya, and Lily Miller.”
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Brandon grabbed the document, his hands shaking so violently he nearly tore the paper. “Judge Vance? Who the hell is Judge Vance? Is everyone in this damn city named Vance?!”
“Judge Vance is your wife’s uncle,” one of the state troopers replied coldly. “Mr. Miller, you need to turn around and step out of the building. Right now.”
