Chapter 3 - The House of Cards
Inside the mansion, the warmth suddenly felt suffocating. Eleanor set her champagne flute on a side table, her hand shaking slightly.
"Who were those men, Adrian?" she demanded, her aristocratic composure cracking. "How did that penniless girl afford private security?"
"I don't know, Mother. It’s probably a bluff. Some cheap stunt she pulled with credit cards," Adrian scoffed, though his heart was pounding. He marched over to the mahogany console table and snatched his phone. "I'm calling the bank. I'm cutting off her joint accounts."
He dialed the platinum concierge line. An automated voice answered, but instead of the usual greeting, it routed him directly to a fraud prevention agent.
"Mr. Sterling," the representative said, her tone rigidly professional. "We were just about to contact you. Your accounts have been flagged and suspended."
"Suspended? By who? I am the CEO of Sterling Holdings!" Adrian yelled.
"Sir, Sterling Holdings is a subsidiary of the Hayes Global Trust. The principal owner has executed an emergency freeze on all subsidiary assets due to a breach of contract."
Adrian’s stomach dropped into an icy abyss. Hayes Global Trust. The phantom conglomerate that had bought out his failing family business three years ago, saving them from bankruptcy and allowing them to keep their luxurious lifestyle. They had never met the CEO. They only knew the last name was Hayes.
May you like
Ms. Hayes. Marcus’s voice echoed in his head.
"No," Adrian whispered, dropping the phone. Emma wasn't a struggling artist from the Midwest. She was the hand that fed them. And he had just thrown her out into the snow.
