Chapter 6 - MOUNTAINSIDE SANCTUARY
Two weeks later, halfway across the world, the morning sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of a private mountainside recovery suite overlooking the crystal-clear blue waters of Lake Zurich in Switzerland.
The air was crisp, clean, and scented with pine and alpine flowers.
I sat in a plush white leather armchair on the expansive stone balcony, sipping a cup of steaming jasmine tea, wrapped in a luxurious cashmere cardigan. I looked radiant. The pale, stressed exhaustion that had defined my final months in Seattle was completely gone, replaced by a quiet, untouchable glow of absolute freedom and power.
My private satellite phone buzzed softly on the glass table beside my teacup.
I picked it up and swiped to answer.
"Report," I said calmly.
The deep, professional voice of my lead financial advisor, Mr. Sterling, came through the secure line.
"Good morning, Mrs. Preston—or rather, Ms. Vance-Sterling, per your newly updated legal filings," Sterling said with a polite chuckle. "I’m calling to give you the final liquidation figures from the Seattle proceedings."
"Go ahead, Sterling," I instructed, taking a slow, appreciative sip of my tea.
"Following the federal seizure of Preston & Vance Real Estate, the court-appointed liquidator has approved the complete transfer of all remaining unencumbered commercial assets directly to your private holding fund, Aegis Global Ventures. Total net liquidation value secured as of this morning: thirty-eight point four million dollars."
I smiled faintly, watching a white sailboat glide across the water. "And Marcus?"
"Marcus Preston was denied bail yesterday afternoon due to an extreme flight risk," Sterling replied clinically. "His defense team tried to argue medical hardship regarding his mother, but the prosecution presented documented evidence that Eleanor Preston’s private medical funds had been entirely funneled through the same offshore shell accounts. Eleanor herself remains in stable condition on permanent dialysis in a state-funded palliative care facility, as private insurance coverage was entirely revoked due to fraudulent claims."
"And Victoria?" I asked, my voice devoid of any malice—just cold, objective curiosity.
"Ms. Vance has reportedly fled the state of Washington, abandoning Marcus entirely, and is currently facing concurrent civil lawsuits from several of the firm's major institutional investors for secondary fraud."
I gazed out across the breathtaking expanse of Lake Zurich.
"Very well, Sterling. Thank you for the update. Close out the communications channel for the next week. I’m taking a few days off to travel down to the Italian Riviera."
"Enjoy your holiday, Ms. Sterling. You’ve certainly earned every penny of it."
May you like
The line clicked shut.
I set the phone down, leaned back in my chair, and closed my eyes, breathing in the fresh alpine air. I had survived the fire, and out of the ashes, I had built an empire of my own.
