Chapter 6 - The Unraveling
By 1:00 PM, the fallout from Julian’s downfall was cascading across every major financial news network in the country.
CNBC Headline: STERLING GLOBAL CAPITAL FACES TOTAL LIQUIDATION AFTER MONTGOMERY LAND TRUST SEIZES HEADQUARTERS.
Bloomberg Breaking News: JULIAN STERLING UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR FELONY ASSAULT, MEDICAL FORGERY, AND CORPORATE EMBEZZLEMENT.
In a small, dingy motel room near LAX airport, Eleanor Sterling sat on the edge of a stained mattress, watching the news ticker scroll across the television screen. Her designer clothes were rumpled, her diamond rings lay on the nightstand alongside a cheap paper cup of cold coffee.
Beside her, Julian was pacing back and forth like a caged animal, biting his fingernails down to the quick.
“She took everything, Mom!” Julian screamed, slamming his fist against the drywall, leaving a dent in the plaster. “The bank froze our personal accounts! The firm’s equity credit line was revoked! My credit cards were declined at the gas station!”
Eleanor wept hysterically, covering her face with her trembling, wrinkled hands. “How did she hide this from us, Julian? How did that orphan girl own the land beneath our feet for six years?!”
“Because she played us!” Julian roared, his eyes bloodshot with insane rage. “She sat there in our apartment, cooking dinner, taking your insults, letting you call her trash, while she held the key to our entire existence!”
The motel room door burst open with a loud BANG.
Four plainclothes detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Commercial Crimes Unit stepped into the room, badges displayed on their belts, sidearms drawn.
“Julian Sterling? Eleanor Sterling?” the lead detective announced.
Julian stumbled backward against the wall. “What... what is this now?”
“You are both under arrest,” the detective stated cleanly, pulling two pairs of steel handcuffs from his belt. “Julian Sterling, you are charged with felony domestic abuse against a pregnant person, medical document forgery, corporate fraud, and witness tampering.”
The detective turned to Eleanor, locking the cuffs around her frail, diamond-adorned wrists.
“Eleanor Sterling, you are charged with felony conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, and illegal possession of stolen emergency medical equipment.”
May you like
Eleanor shrieked, fighting against the officer’s grip as she was dragged toward the door. “Julian! Do something! Call Richard! Call the judge!”
“Richard dropped our account two hours ago, Mom!” Julian sobbed, collapsing onto his knees as the second officer yanked his arms behind his back, clicking the steel cuffs tight around his wrists. “We don't have a lawyer anymore!”
