Chapter 4 - THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCEI walked into the private bridal suite adjoining the ballroom ten minutes later. Charles Sterling was standing near the doorway, speaking quietly with his son Gabriel while Penelope adjusted her makeup in the mirror.
When Charles saw me enter, he immediately stepped away from Gabriel and walked toward me.
“Laura,” Charles said gently. “Are you alright? You look pale.”
“Charles,” I said directly. “I need to ask you a question, and I need an honest answer.”
“Anything.”
“Does Sterling Development Group maintain controlling interest in First Pacific Commercial Bank?”
Charles’ eyes sharpened instantly. The warm, nostalgic look on his face shifted into the razor-sharp focus of a veteran billionaire businessman.
“Yes,” Charles replied smoothly. “My company owns forty-two percent of the bank’s voting shares, and I sit as Chairman of the Board. Why?”
I pulled the thick manila envelope from my handbag and handed it to him.
Charles opened the clasp and pulled out the copies of the mortgage application, the forged Quitclaim Deed, the wire transfer receipts, and the bank routing numbers my attorney had sent over.
As Charles scanned the documents, his jaw tightened. His eyes flashed with cold, dangerous fury.
“This loan was issued through First Pacific’s commercial lending division yesterday afternoon,” Charles murmured, his thumb tracing the forged signature on the deed. “He used a crooked notary from his own firm to stamp this.”
“He forged my signature to steal my father's house, Charles,” I said, my voice unwavering. “And he wired four hundred thousand dollars of the loan proceeds into an offshore account under his assistant’s name yesterday morning.”
Gabriel walked over, taking a look over his father’s shoulder. “Dad... that’s felony bank fraud. First Pacific’s underwriting team should have flagged a spendthrift trust clause instantly.”
“They didn't flag it because Tristan’s senior partner at Bennett Financial is on First Pacific’s loan review committee,” Charles said coldly.
Charles looked up at me, his eyes filled with immense respect. “Laura, your husband didn't just commit fraud against you. He committed fraud against my bank. He used my financial institution to launder stolen equity from your father’s estate.”
“Tristan thinks he’s going to force me to sign an indemnity waiver tonight before the midnight clearing house sweep,” I explained. “If I don't sign, he knows the bank audit on Monday will catch the forgery.”
Charles pulled out his encrypted satellite phone from his tuxedo jacket.
“He won't have to wait until Monday,” Charles said calmly.
He tapped a speed dial button and placed the phone to his ear.
“Julian,” Charles spoke into the receiver with absolute authority. “This is Charles. I need you to issue an emergency freeze on Escrow Account 8804 at First Pacific immediately. Mark it as an active Fraud and Money Laundering investigation. Then, contact the Managing Director of the Cayman Financial Authority. I want an emergency freeze on the correspondent account under the name Corinne Blake.”
Charles listened for a moment, nodded, and added: “And Julian? Call District Attorney Marcus Vance. Tell him I need a senior white-collar crime prosecutor at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in thirty minutes.”
Charles ended the call and looked at me.
“The money is locked, Laura,” Charles said smoothly. “Not a single dollar will leave that account. Now, tell me... how would you like to handle your husband?”
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I looked at Charles, then at my daughter Penelope, who was standing beside Gabriel, holding her husband's hand with a look of fierce pride.
“Tristan wanted an audience tonight,” I said, a slow, powerful smile spreading across my lips. “He brought his mistress, moved me to the back of the room, and tried to destroy my dignity in front of San Diego society. I think it’s only fair we give him the finale he paid for.”
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