Chapter 5 - THE LEGAL AMBUSH
The grand boardroom of the Federal High Court was a breathtaking, suffocating monument to old-money power and absolute judicial finality.
The room was packed with senior investment partners, international compliance directors, and corporate attorneys, all waiting for the scheduled integration meeting.
Grant Mercer sat at the defense table, his designer linen suit wrinkled, his eyes wide with an aggressive, defensive fury as he tried to maintain his aristocratic composure.
Beside him sat Eleanor, her hands clutched tightly in her lap, her face looking hollowed out and pale under the bright LED lights.
"This is a domestic dispute that has been completely blown out of proportion by an unstable, emotional woman," the Mercer attorney declared, his smooth, rehearsed confidence sounding entirely artificial.
"My clients have operated with the highest degree of corporate integrity, and these temporary financial freezes are a violation of their constitutional rights."
"The constitutional rights of your clients ended the moment they attempted to assault a pregnant woman to protect an offshore dividend," a cold, clear voice cut through the room.
The heavy mahogany double doors were violently thrown open, and Claire walked through the threshold, her hospital gown replaced by a sharp, tailored black wool maternity suit.
May you like
Beside her walked Jonathan, his posture rigid and commanding, his fingers holding the metal drive containing the decrypted hospital security records.
Behind them walked a team of six armed federal marshals, their gold shields gleaming under the lights as they surrounded the defense table.
