Chapter 9: The Reckoning
Julian stared at the discarded ring, utterly paralyzed. Eleanor, attempting to save her son's future, finally found her voice.
"Mr. Vance, surely we can come to an understanding," Eleanor choked out, her face pale. "It was a mistake in the heat of the moment. We are reasonable people. We run Mercer Financial, we—"
"Mercer Financial," Arthur interrupted, tasting the words as if they were poison. He didn't yell. He didn't need to. "Yes, I am familiar. Vance Holdings handles a significant portion of your firm's commercial real estate portfolio. Or, rather, we did."
Eleanor’s knees nearly buckled.
"By nine o'clock tomorrow morning, my legal team will begin severing all ties, contracts, and investments with your family’s firm," Arthur stated plainly. "Furthermore, if you, your son, or anyone in your circle ever approaches my daughter again, I will make it my personal mission to ensure you are bankrupt by the end of the fiscal quarter. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
Eleanor couldn't speak. She could only nod, tears of sheer panic ruining her expensive makeup.
May you like
Arthur turned his back on them, dismissing them entirely. He wrapped a strong, protective arm around Vivian’s shoulders. "Let's go home, sweetheart."
Surrounded by the elite security detail, Vivian and her father walked toward the grand oak doors. As they passed, the high-society guests physically stepped away from Julian and Eleanor, immediately distancing themselves from the family that had just been marked for ruin by Arthur Vance.
