Chapter 6: Standing Ground
Richard’s face twisted in irritation as he recognized the man standing before the machinery.
"Julian Sterling," Richard scoffed, walking up to the car. "What are you doing here? Playing the superhero in a thrift-store outfit?"
"This center stays open, Richard," Julian said evenly. His voice carried a steady gravity that silenced the rumbling engines around them.
"You don't own this parcel," Richard mocked, waving the city permit in the air. "I bought the underlying mortgage from the city bank yesterday. It’s fully legal. If you don't move your car, I'll have the police tow it and arrest you for trespassing."
"You bought the mortgage with an emergency credit bridge from Vantage Trust," Julian replied calmly, not blinking. "Did you read the covenants on page forty-seven?"
Richard froze. "What are you talking about?"
"Vantage Trust is a subsidiary of Sterling-Vance," Julian stated. "Under section twelve, any default in corporate ethics or unlawful eviction allows the lead creditor to freeze the borrower's liquidity immediately."
Julian pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker.
"Arthur," Julian said.
"Yes, Mr. Sterling," Vance’s voice resonated clearly. "Apex Group's credit lines have been officially terminated. Their accounts are frozen pending a full predatory lending review. The city sheriff has just received the injunction."
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Richard’s phone immediately began buzzing frantically with alerts from his board of directors and panicked lenders.
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