Chapter 6 - The Confrontation
The three prospective investors immediately leaned forward, picking up the documents I had placed on the table. They were men of serious wealth, and they recognized official financial enforcement stamps when they saw them.
"What is the meaning of this, Julian?" one of the older investors asked, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the audit trail. "This document shows an active freeze order on your firm's primary investment pool."
"It's a mistake! A total misunderstanding!" Julian stammered, standing up so fast his chair scraped loudly against the hardwood floor, drawing the attention of neighboring tables. "This man is a lunatic! He's having marital troubles and he's trying to slander me!"
"It's not slander when it's backed by federal wire logs, Julian," I said, remaining completely relaxed in my chair. "You and Wendy attempted to divert six hundred thousand dollars of my business capital through an offshore account registered in the Caymans at 1:00 PM today. Unfortunately for you, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network flagged the transaction two hours ago."
"You... you froze the account?" Julian whispered, his face turning an ash-grey shade.
"I didn't just freeze the account," I said, leaning in closer so only he and his clients could hear. "I submitted a full forensic audit of your entire firm to the District Attorney's Fraud Bureau at 8:00 AM. They're currently seizing your server racks at your Midtown office as we speak."
Julian's knees buckled slightly, forcing him to grip the edge of the table to stay upright. The three wealthy investors stood up in unison, buttoning their suit jackets, their expressions filled with total disgust.
"Our agreement is canceled, Reed," the lead investor said coldly. "Expect a call from our legal counsel by the end of the day to reclaim our retainer."
"Wait! Gentlemen, please! Let me explain!" Julian pleaded, reaching out, but the men walked away without giving him a second glance.
The entire dining room of The Sterling Club was now dead silent, staring at the disgraced advisor.
Julian glared at me with wild, bloodshot eyes, his fake professional mask completely shattered. "You ruined me! Do you have any idea what you've done?! I owed people money on those deals!"
"You ruined yourself the moment you touched my mother's retirement fund and put bruises on her arm," I said, my voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper that made him flinch. "You thought I was just a soft accountant Wendy could manipulate. You forgot that accountants are the ones who put people like you in federal prison."
Two uniformed NYPD officers entered the main dining room of the club, escorted by the head of security.
"Julian Reed?" Officer Martinez asked, pulling a set of steel handcuffs from his belt. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit grand larceny, wire fraud, and criminal syndication."
As the officers grabbed Julian’s arms and snapped the cuffs onto his wrists in front of the city's most influential executives, he looked at me, screaming hysterically as he was dragged toward the exit.
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"She made me do it! Wendy came up with the plan! She said your mother was an easy target!" he yelled into the crowded room.
"Tell it to the grand jury, Julian," I said, taking a sip of the sparkling water left on the table.
