Chapter 5 - THE LEGAL AMBUSH
The grand executive boardroom of the Hartwell Tower was silent as a tomb when the federal marshals entered the floor with the suspects in custody.
Evelyn Vale sat at the defense table, her designer linen coat wrinkled, her eyes wide with an aggressive, defensive fury as she tried to maintain her high-society composure.
Beside her sat Grant, his hands clutched tightly in his lap, his handsome face looking hollowed out and pale under the bright LED lights of the room.
"This is a domestic dispute that has been completely blown out of proportion by an emotional, pregnant woman," the Vale family 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 steal thirty-five million dollars from a secured trust fund to cover a failed real estate debt," my father's attorney, Naomi Pierce, announced as she stepped onto the platform.
She placed the certified, state-stamped digital notary records on the table, the bold red security stamp gleaming under the lights.
"We have the physical IP tracking logs showing Grant Vale logging into our client’s private corporate portal from his personal laptop during the wedding reception."
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"And we have the recorded security footage from the ballroom showing Daniel attempting to physically coerce our client into handing over the key to the safe."
"The evidence of your systemic fraud is absolute, Mr. Vale," she added, turning to look at him with a cold, professional disdain.
