Chapter 6 - The Fall of Rourke Luxury
The following Monday, the public execution of Diane Rourke’s business took place on the steps of the County Courthouse.
Under the bright glare of television cameras, Marcus Vance stood alongside a court-appointed receiver to conduct the court-ordered foreclosure auction of Rourke Luxury Properties and its primary real estate assets.
A crowd of over two hundred people—including former clients whom Diane had cheated out of security deposits—gathered to watch.
"Item number one," the auctioneer’s voice boomed through the loudspeakers. "The commercial real estate holding company known as Rourke Luxury Properties, including all physical premises, intellectual property, and active lease portfolios. Opening bid: three million dollars."
"Three million," a bidder in the third row called out.
"Four million," another offered.
"Six million dollars," Marcus Vance announced calmly on behalf of Sterling Capital.
The crowd went quiet. No one in the city had the financial backing to compete with the Sterling estate.
"Going once... going twice... sold to Sterling Capital for six million dollars!" the auctioneer slammed the wooden gavel down.
At that exact moment, two miles away at the grand Rourke estate, county marshals were executing a writ of eviction.
Diane’s daughter, Chloe—Caleb’s spoiled younger sister who had spent years making snide comments about my family at holiday dinners—stood on the driveway in her pajamas, sobbing as workers hauled her expensive designer wardrobe, Italian leather sofas, and marble dining tables out onto the lawn.
"You can't do this!" Chloe screamed at the lead deputy marshal. "My mother will have you fired!"
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"Your mother is currently being processed at the regional detention center, miss," the deputy marshal replied without looking up from his clipboard. "This property belongs to Sterling Capital now. You have fifteen minutes to take your personal items and clear the perimeter."
As news helicopters hovered overhead, broadcasting the eviction live across the state, the high-society status the Rourke family had spent decades building on lies collapsed into complete dust.
