Chapter 3
Julian descended the concrete steps three at a time, his tuxedo jacket catching on the metal handrail and ripping the silk lining. The damp air of the garage bit into his lungs, but he ignored the physical discomfort, driven entirely by the primal panic of losing control. He burst out onto the ground-level exit lane just in time to see the yellow tail-lights of a battered sedan disappearing into the swirling rain of the city street. He slammed his fist against the cold brick wall of the parking garage, the impact sending a dull ache shooting up his forearm.
"Sir? Do you need assistance?" a security guard asked, jogging over with an umbrella and a cautious expression.
"Did you see which way that cab went?" Julian demanded, grabbing the guard by the lapels of his uniform jacket.
"North, toward the bridge, sir," the guard stammered, pulling back nervously. "Is there a problem?"
Julian released him with a shove, turning back toward the private entrance where his own driver was idling the sleek phantom-gray coupe. He pulled out his phone, bypassing his mother and dialing the private direct line to his firm’s chief legal counsel.
"Arthur, drop whatever you're doing," Julian commanded the moment the line connected. "I need an immediate injunction filed against Amy Vance. Restraining order, asset freeze, and a mandatory custody assessment regarding..." He hesitated, the word catching in his throat like broken glass. "...regarding our unborn child."
"Mr. Sterling," Arthur’s voice sounded hesitant, weighed down by an unusual gravity. "I received a notification from the county clerk’s office less than ten minutes ago. It appears a trust dissolution petition was filed under Miss Vance’s maiden name. She didn’t just leave the penthouse, Julian. She systematically dismantled the joint venture accounts hours before you even arrived at the gala."
Julian stopped dead in his tracks, the rain soaking through the shoulders of his tuxedo. "That's impossible. Those accounts require my signature and my biometric verification."
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"She used the proxy authorization you granted her during the merger negotiations last spring," Arthur replied quietly. "The documents were notarized by your own executive assistant."
Julian’s blood ran cold. He spun around, staring up at the gleaming thirty-story monolith of glass and steel where the gala was still echoing with hollow laughter. He remembered the stack of papers he had signed without reading while rushing to catch a transatlantic flight. Victoria had smiled at him while he held the pen.
