Chapter 9 - The House of Cards Collapses"What the hell is this?!" Scott roared, slamming his palms against the glass table as he stood up. "Who are you? Get the hell out of my boardroom!"
Victoria Sterling didn't even flinch. She stepped forward, placing a thick, red-stamped court order directly on top of Richard Vance’s settlement contract.
"My name is Victoria Sterling, lead trial counsel for Diane Carter," Victoria announced, her voice echoing off the glass walls like thunder. "And as of 8:30 AM this morning, Judge Katherine Hayes of the Cook County Chancery Division signed an emergency injunction."
She turned to the sheriff's deputies, pointing at the executive desk.
"This court order immediately freezes all corporate operating accounts, personal line facilities, and overseas wire clearing permissions for Carter Enterprises," Victoria stated coldly. "Effective immediately, Scott Carter is suspended from his duties as Chief Executive Officer pending a full forensic audit."
"Suspended?!" Scott turned pale, his eyes darting frantically to Richard Vance. "Richard! What is she talking about? Fix this!"
Richard Vance’s confident demeanor was completely gone. His face had turned a sickly shade of grey as he stared at Victoria Sterling’s signature block on the court order.
"Victoria... Ms. Sterling," Richard stammered, his voice trembling. "There must be a misunderstanding here. I am Mrs. Carter's appointed legal representative—"
"You were her legal representative, Mr. Vance," Victoria cut him off cleanly. "Until you were caught on a federal wire recording conspiring with Scott Carter to defraud your own client and facilitate illegal asset stripping."
Richard sank back into his chair as if he had been physically struck.
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Vanessa stood up, her expensive coat slipping off her shoulders as her eyes widened in terror. "Scott? What is happening? What about the merger with my father’s firm? The papers were supposed to be signed today!"
"There will be no merger, Miss Vance," I said, stepping up to the head of the table and looking my husband straight in the eyes. "Because fifteen years ago, when Scott and I founded this business, I retained 51% majority ownership. Every contract, every merger, and every asset transfer Scott signed without my explicit written approval over the last five years is legally null and void."
