Chapter 6 - The Unraveling Empire
While Patricia was busy having a near-apoplectic breakdown on the sidewalk over a set of silver candelabras, a black town car pulled quietly up to the curb. Out stepped Arthur Vance, the senior managing director of Fulton Trust Bank and an old family friend of Grant’s late father.
Patricia saw him and let out a dramatic sob of relief, rushing toward him on the pavement. ""Arthur! Oh, thank God you're here! Look what this deranged girl is doing to us! Call the chief of police! Call the mayor! Tell them who we are!""
Arthur looked down at Patricia, his face carved from grim, sorrowful stone. He did not extend an arm to comfort her. Instead, he pulled an envelope from his suit coat.
""Patricia, I'm not here as a friend,"" Arthur said quietly, handing the envelope past her to Grant. ""I'm here as the chief legal counsel for the bank's commercial division.""
Grant swallowed hard, refusing to take the envelope. ""Arthur, whatever this is, can we handle it tomorrow at the office? We are having a massive domestic crisis right now.""
""There is no office tomorrow, Grant,"" Arthur said bluntly.
The words hung in the humid air like a thunderclap.
""What are you talking about?"" Grant whispered.
""Allison’s legal team filed an injunction at noon today freezing all shared corporate assets pending an audit of the Monroe Commercial real estate portfolio,"" Arthur explained, his voice carrying clearly to the surrounding deputies and neighbors. ""When our risk assessment team reviewed the collateral securing your business lines of credit, we discovered that you pledged the West Paces Ferry estate as primary collateral for the loans on the Northside Mall redevelopment project.""
Patricia turned to her son, her eyes wide with sudden horror. ""Grant... what did he just say?""
""You didn't own the property, Grant,"" Arthur continued mercilessly. ""You forged Allison’s signature as the designated trust representative on two separate commercial mortgage guarantees totaling fourteen million dollars. Fulton Trust has declared an immediate acceleration of the debt. By tomorrow morning, the federal bank examiners will be reviewing your books. And if those signatures prove fraudulent—which Mrs. Sloan has already provided forensic handwriting proof that they are—this ceases to be a civil divorce matter. It becomes federal bank fraud.""
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Patricia looked between Arthur and Grant, her breath coming in ragged, shallow gasps. The proud, untouchable Monroe family matriarch suddenly looked frail, shrunken, and utterly defeated. ""Grant... tell him he’s lying. Tell him you didn't do that.""
Grant couldn't speak. He stared at his polished shoes, the dark shadow of prison bars suddenly looming over his future.
