Chapter 5 - The Master of Puppets
For the next seventy-two hours, Richard Vance felt like the master of the universe.
Sterling Global Holdings had unexpectedly approved Apex Capital’s $40 million debt facility. Even better, Julian Sterling’s office had attached a special rider: Richard Vance was named the lead syndication officer, granting him an unprecedented personal commission of $1.8 million upon final closing at the Plaza Summit.
Richard strutted through the marble corridors of Apex Capital like a conqueror.
“Did you see the numbers, babe?” Richard bragged over the phone to Vanessa as he admired his reflection in the mirrored elevator doors. “Sterling’s people signed off on the whole package. My boss is talking about an equity partnership by next quarter!”
“Oh, Richie, I knew you were destined for greatness!” Vanessa squealed on the other end. “I’m already looking at townhomes in Upper Brookville. And what about that pathetic runaway? Has she signed the custody waiver yet?”
Richard scoffed. “Her sleazy pro-bono lawyer filed some stalling paperwork, but it doesn’t matter. Once my commission clears, I’m hiring the top firm in the state. I’ll make sure Maya doesn’t get a single penny. She’ll be begging to clean my kitchen floor just to see Lily for five minutes on Christmas.”
“She deserves it!” Vanessa laughed cruelly. “Everyone on TikTok is still dragging her. The video hit five million views today!”
“Let them watch,” Richard grinned. “It’ll show every woman what happens when you cross a Vance.”
What Richard did not know—what his mediocre mind could not even begin to fathom—was that beneath the surface of his triumphant week, a silent financial noose was being cinched tight around his throat.
Inside a penthouse suite at the Four Seasons, Aurelia Van Allen sat behind three monitors.
Beside her, forensic financial investigators were ripping through every account, credit application, and tax return Richard Vance had filed in the last six years.
“He’s sloppy, Aurelia,” Thomas reported, pointing a laser at the screen. “To finance his leased Porsche and impress Vanessa with Cartier watches, he’s been falsifying Apex Capital’s expense reports and moving client funds through an offshore LLC in Belize. It’s blatant embezzlement.”
“How much?” Aurelia asked. She was dressed in an elegant ivory cashmere sweater, her hair styled in a sleek, immaculate chignon. Her eyes were completely dry.
“Two point four million over thirty-six months,” Thomas said. “Furthermore, your mother-in-law, Olivia, isn’t as clean as she claims. She’s been receiving monthly kickbacks from a real estate development scam in Queens that Richard buried inside his firm's secondary ledger.”
Aurelia traced the rim of her coffee cup. “And the house in Long Island? The one where Richard shoved my face into my daughter’s cake?”
“The mortgage was delinquent three months ago,” Thomas replied with a cold grin. “Richard had taken out a balloon second mortgage to fund his lavish lifestyle. Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Sterling’s holding company bought the underlying note from Deutsche Bank. You, Aurelia, now officially own the deed to the Vance family home.”
Aurelia leaned back in her chair.
She remembered the humiliation. She remembered forty-seven guests watching in silence. She remembered Olivia laughing, and Vanessa holding up her camera like a Roman spectator enjoying a blood sport.
“Keep the pressure steady,” Aurelia ordered smoothly. “Let Richard show up to the Plaza Summit in his finest suit. Let him bring his mother. Let him bring his mistress.”
Julian walked in from the adjoining study, holding a crystal glass of sparkling cider for Lily, who was happily coloring in a sketchpad on the velvet rug.
“The stage is set,” Julian said, catching Aurelia’s eye. “Tomorrow morning, Richard Vance files into the Manhattan Family Court for the emergency custody hearing he demanded. He thinks he’s walking into an easy ambush.”
Aurelia stood, walking over to the window that looked out toward the Empire State Building.
May you like
“Tomorrow,” Aurelia said softly, “the cake girl takes her first bite.”
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