Chapter 5 - Uninvited Guests
Before anyone could process the catastrophic financial ruin unfolding before them, the heavy sound of approaching engines echoed from the front driveway once more. But these weren't luxury SUVs. These were four black Ford Explorers with tinted windows and discreet government plates, followed closely by two state police cruisers. The red and blue emergency lights swept across the manicured boxwood hedges and reflected violently against the crystal chandeliers hanging from the terrace tent.
The socialites began backing away, panic finally setting in. Guests who held political office or corporate directorships began looking for the side exits, quietly slipping through the garden paths to avoid being photographed anywhere near the Carter family.
""Who called the police?"" Eleanor cried out, her composure completely shattered. ""Richard! Do something! Tell them this is a private event! Get them out of here!""
Six agents in dark suits bearing federal badges stepped onto the terrace. The lead agent, a tall woman with steel-gray hair and an unmistakable air of authority, walked up the steps toward the fountain. She didn't look at Marcus, and she didn't look at me. She pulled an official document from her jacket and looked directly at Richard Carter and Preston Sterling.
""Richard Carter? Preston Sterling Jr.?"" she asked.
Richard could barely lift his head. ""Yes... who are you?""
""I am Special Agent Miller with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Financial Crimes Division,"" she announced clearly. ""We have an active federal warrant for the arrest of Richard Carter for wire fraud, corporate embezzlement, and falsifying quarterly financial filings to secure federal loan guarantees. We also have a warrant for Preston Sterling Jr. for insider trading and international money laundering in connection with Sterling Heritage Trust.""
Vanessa let out a bloodcurdling scream. ""No! No, no, no! Stop! It's my wedding day! You can't do this on my wedding day!""
Two uniformed state troopers stepped forward, ignoring Vanessa's frantic flailing. They approached Preston first. The smug, wealthy heir who had mocked my dress and laughed when I was pushed into the water didn't say a single word. He held out his wrists, trembling uncontrollably, and let the steel handcuffs click around his wrists.
""Preston! Say something!"" Vanessa sobbed, grabbing his arm. ""Tell them it's a mistake! You're a Sterling!""
""Get away from me, Vanessa!"" Preston snapped violently, jerking his arm out of her grip. His mask of aristocratic charm was completely gone. ""The only reason I agreed to marry your shallow, talentless self was to save my family's firm with your father's cash! And the bastard doesn't even have a dime! You're both frauds! Get off me!""
Vanessa staggered backward, clutching her chest, looking as if she had been slapped across the face.
Then the troopers moved toward Richard. My father looked up at me, his eyes filled with a grotesque mixture of terror, disbelief, and begging. ""Emily... Emily, please. You have the money. You have Sovereign Alpha. Call your lawyers. Call them off. I'm your father! I gave you life! You can't let them take me in front of these people!""
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I stood there, wrapped in my cashmere coat, looking down at him. ""When you pushed me into that fountain, Richard, you asked if I was going to cry to my imaginary boyfriend. You said maybe someone would finally notice me. Well... they noticed. But I didn't call the FBI. Your own chief financial officer went to them three months ago when he realized you were forging his signature on tax documents. I just bought the debt so you couldn't use company money to bail yourself out.""
The troopers pulled Richard to his feet. As the cold metal handcuffs snapped shut around his wrists, the entire terrace watched in stunned silence. The man who had reigned over them with an iron fist of arrogance was led down the stone steps like a common criminal, his expensive leather shoes dragging through the gravel.
