Chapter 4 - The Shattered Toast
Dad let out a loud, theatrical laugh, looking around at the surrounding guests as if inviting them to share in the joke.
“Corporate restructuring?!” Dad mocked, holding his stomach. “Fiona, you worked as an entry-level copywriter at a mid-tier marketing firm that went bankrupt! You don't even know how to run a balance sheet!”
“Your father is right, Fiona,” Mom chimed in, her voice dripping with condescension. “Stop making a fool of yourself. Leave now, or we will have club security physically drag you into the parking lot.”
I opened the leather folder, pulling out a white document bearing the official seal of the State Corporate Licensing Board and Crestview Legacy Assets.
“George Palmer,” I read loudly, ignoring my mother entirely. “As of 5:00 PM today, Crestview Legacy Assets has officially acquired the master mortgage debt of Palmer Logistics from First Pine National Bank.”
Dad’s laughter froze in his throat.
The color began to drain from his ears down to his neck.
“What... what did you just say?” Dad stammered, stepping closer. “Crestview? How do you even know that name?”
“Because Grandpa Walter was the sole founder and managing director of Crestview Legacy Assets,” I revealed smoothly, looking him dead in the eye. “And upon his death, his entire controlling stake was transferred to a private trust.”
Savannah rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh, please! Grandpa was a retired mechanic who lived in a dump on the West Side! He didn't own any corporate firm!”
“Your grandfather owned the land under this country club, Savannah,” Lucas’s father suddenly spoke up, his voice tight and nervous as he stepped forward. “Wait... George... is this true? Is Crestview your primary debt holder?”
Dad swallowed hard, a sudden bead of sweat breaking out on his forehead. “It’s... it’s a temporary financing arrangement, Arthur! Nothing to worry about! My daughter is just confused!”
“I am not confused, Dad,” I said, stepping right up to him and handing him the document. “Crestview has conducted a forensic audit of Palmer Logistics over the last forty-eight hours. We discovered $400,000 in unauthorized capital withdrawals used to fund personal credit accounts, luxury auto leases, and this exact engagement party.”
The entire ballroom went dead silent.
Guests began whispering behind their crystal glasses.
Lucas’s mother gasped, looking at Savannah’s massive diamond ring with sudden suspicion.
“You used corporate loan capital to pay for this party, George?” Lucas’s father demanded, his tone turning dark and accusatory. “You told me your firm had three million in clear working capital! You told me you were debt-free!”
“I am! I mean... we are!” Dad panicked, waving his hands frantically. “Fiona, stop this right now! What kind of sick game are you playing?! Who gave you these papers?!”
“Grandpa gave them to me,” I replied calmly. “In a mahogany box you all laughed at during his wake.”
Mom’s jaw dropped. “The... the box from the attorney?”
“Yes, Mom,” I said. “The box you told me contained old fishing hooks.”
I turned my attention back to my father, whose hands were shaking so violently he could barely hold the paper I had handed him.
“Because Palmer Logistics is in default of its master lease covenants,” I announced clearly, “Crestview is exercising its legal right to freeze all corporate operational accounts effective immediately. All company-issued luxury vehicles—including the Audi parked outside in the valet stand—are subject to immediate repossession by midnight tonight.”
Savannah let out a sharp, hysterical shriek. “My Audi?! You can’t touch my car! Lucas, tell her she can’t touch my car!”
Lucas looked at Savannah, then at my father’s pale, trembling face, then back at me in my tailored green silk gown standing beside the Maybach driver who had just walked into the lobby holding a briefcase.
Lucas slowly stepped back from Savannah, pulling his hand out of her grip.
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“Lucas?” Savannah whimpered, her eyes filling with wild panic. “What are you doing?”
“My father and I were about to invest two million dollars into your father’s company next week, Savannah,” Lucas said, his voice cold and disgusted. “Your family lied to us. You’re completely broke.”
