Chapter 6 - The Boardroom Gathering
Friday morning brought crisp blue skies over Lake Washington. Downstairs, five large suitcases and a dozen cardboard boxes sat stacked by the front entrance. Travis looked like a ghost of a man, his eyes hollowed by sleeplessness. Melanie sat on the bottom stair, frantically scrolling through her phone, desperately searching for extended-stay motels that accepted cash.
At precisely 10:00 AM, a sleek black Mercedes Maybach pulled into the driveway, followed by two dark executive SUVs.
Travis looked out the sidelight window, his jaw slacking. ""Who is that? Mom, did you call the moving company already?""
I walked down the grand staircase, dressed in an impeccably tailored navy suit, wearing the pearl necklace Arthur had given me on our thirty-fifth anniversary. I carried my slim leather briefcase.
""Those aren't movers, Travis,"" I said smoothly. ""Those are my partners.""
The heavy oak front door opened, and a distinguished man in his sixties with silver hair and a bespoke charcoal suit stepped inside, accompanied by two younger attorneys carrying leather briefcases.
Travis gasped. ""Mr. Vance?!""
Julian Vance was the senior managing partner of Vance, Sterling & Carter, one of the most powerful corporate law and wealth-management firms on the West Coast. He was a man who only appeared in the financial pages of the Wall Street Journal or behind closed doors in high-stakes corporate acquisitions. Travis had seen him once a decade ago at Arthur's retirement celebration.
""Good morning, Travis,"" Julian said in a deep, commanding voice, barely giving the younger man a glance. He turned to me and bowed his head respectfully. ""Ruth, my dear friend. It is wonderful to see you looking so formidable. Everything is prepared.""
""Wait... Mr. Vance?"" Melanie stammered, scrambling to her feet, her eyes wide with shock. ""What is Vance Capital doing here? Why are corporate lawyers visiting a residential eviction?""
Julian Vance turned his cold, aristocratic gaze toward Melanie. ""Young lady, I do not represent residential landlords. I represent the Sterling Global Trust, which oversees the private equity and real estate holdings of Mrs. Ruth Sterling.""
Travis gripped the stair railing, his knuckles turning white. ""Sterling Global Trust? Mom... Dad only left a small family fund... didn't he?""
Julian laughed—a low, genuine chuckle that echoed off the high ceilings. ""A small fund? Boy, did your mother never tell you the final valuation of Vantage Logistics International?""
Travis shook his head slowly, looking between Julian and me as if caught in a surreal nightmare. ""She... she said Dad sold the trucks and retired...""
""Your mother didn't sell a few trucks, Travis,"" Julian said, his voice dropping into pure professional precision. ""Your mother was the sole founder, Chief Executive Officer, and ninety-percent shareholder of Vantage International. When she orchestrated the leveraged buyout eight years ago, the enterprise transaction closed at precisely ninety-four million, five hundred thousand dollars after tax.""
The foyer went dead silent.
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Melanie’s purse slipped from her shoulder, hitting the hardwood floor with a dull thud. Her designer makeup could not conceal the ghastly, sickening pallor that spread across her features.
""Ninety... four... million?"" Melanie whispered, her voice choking on the syllables. ""Ninety million dollars?""
