Chapter 7 - The Downward Spiral
By Thursday afternoon, the financial news networks had turned the Whitmore scandal into the lead story on every business broadcast.
“Whitmore Logistics CEO Ousted In $4M Embezzlement Probe; Billionaire Heiress Takes Reins,” the lower third of CNBC flashed every fifteen minutes.
Daniel had retreated to Vanessa’s luxury apartment at the Riverside Tower, thinking he could hide behind the frosted glass until his criminal defense attorneys could negotiate a plea bargain.
He poured three fingers of bourbon into a tumbler with a hand that rattled against the glass like dry leaves.
The apartment door opened, and Vanessa walked in carrying three heavy luxury leather bags packed to the brim.
"Vanessa, thank God," Daniel exhaled, rushing toward her. "The lawyers want fifty thousand dollars for the retainer fee. I need you to wire the funds from the account I set up for you."
Vanessa looked at him with eyes as cold as January frost.
"What account, Daniel?" she asked, dropping the bags by the door. "The district attorney froze every asset tied to your name two hours ago. My personal accounts are being audited by the IRS."
"It's just temporary!" Daniel cried, reaching out to touch her arm, but she pulled away with sharp disgust.
"Don't touch me," she spat, her lip curling into a sneer. "You told me you were a multi-millionaire mogul who was going to buy me a townhouse in Manhattan. You're just a penniless fraud who was living off an old lady’s trust fund!"
"Vanessa, we love each other!"
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"I loved the CEO of Whitmore Logistics, Daniel," she replied, picking up her luggage and stepping into the hallway where an Uber was already waiting downstairs. "I have no interest in babysitting a bankrupt felon."
She pulled the door shut behind her, the heavy latch clicking like the door of a prison cell.
