Chapter 5 - THE AMBUSH AT THE OFFICE
The headquarters of Sterling & Associates in downtown Charlotte was a glass-and-steel skyscraper where high-net-worth clients managed their wealth.
At eight-thirty the next morning, Mark walked into the grand lobby wearing his best suit. He had spent the night sleeping on the couch in his dark, hot living room, using his car charger to keep his phone alive. His mother had complained incessantly until sunrise.
He was exhausted, furious, and desperate. But he still believed he held the upper hand.
"I'll just drag her to court," Mark muttered to himself as he rode the elevator to the twelfth floor. "A judge will grant me half the mansion, temporary alimony, and force her to turn the power back on. She's just throwing a temper tantrum."
He stepped off the elevator and walked down the corridor toward his corner office.
Standing outside his door was Chloe Harrington, dressed in a sleek red blazer, holding two cups of gourmet coffee.
"Mark!" Chloe whispered, pulling him into an empty conference room. "What happened to you? I called you ten times last night! You weren't at the condo!"
"Valerie came home early," Mark spat, rubbing his tired eyes. "She lost her mind. She turned off the power, shut down the credit cards, and locked herself inside that mansion across the street."
Chloe’s eyes widened. "The mansion? The one you said belonged to an offshore trust?"
"It turns out she owns it," Mark said bitterly. "She bought it three years ago without telling me. But don't worry. My name is on our marriage certificate. My lawyer says everything bought during the marriage is marital property. I'm going to take half that house."
Chloe smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "That's my man. Once you get that settlement, we can finally go public with our relationship and buy the villa in St. Thomas."
"Exactly," Mark grinned, regaining his confidence. "She thinks she’s smart because she makes seventy million closing corporate deals. But in court, a mother who locks her husband out of his home looks crazy. I'll destroy her credibility."
Right on cue, the conference room door swung open.
A man in a sharp grey suit stepped inside, accompanied by two uniformed process servers.
"Mark Sterling?" the man asked.
Mark straightened his tie. "Yes. Who are you?"
"My name is Julian Vance, lead counsel for Valerie Vance," Julian announced loudly, his voice echoing into the busy hallway where dozens of employees were walking past. "You have been officially served with divorce papers, a motion for emergency sole custody of Noah Sterling, and a temporary restraining order."
Mark took the thick legal folder shoved into his chest. "Restraining order? On what grounds?"
"On the grounds of domestic neglect, financial abuse, and criminal harassment," Julian said clearly.
Several coworkers stopped in the hallway, whispering as they pointed at Mark.
Chloe stepped forward, her face turning red. "Listen here, you can't come into our corporate offices and cause a scene! I am the senior auditor here, and I will have security remove you!"
Julian turned his sharp gaze toward Chloe, a cold smile touching his lips. "Ah, Miss Harrington. I'm so glad you're here. This second envelope is for you."
Julian handed a blue folder directly to Chloe.
She frowned. "What is this?"
"That is a formal subpoena from the State Financial Crimes Division," Julian announced, ensuring his voice carried to the corner offices where senior partners were stepping out. "Demanding all records of your private communications, joint bank accounts, and unauthorized expense authorizations involving Mr. Mark Sterling over the past thirty-six months."
Chloe’s face turned paper-white. The coffee cup in her hand shook violently. "What... what are you talking about?"
"Valerie Vance knows everything," Julian whispered smoothly, leaning close to both of them. "She knows about the condo. She knows about Aruba. She knows about the six hundred thousand dollars. And she knows about the master code you used to enter her mansion."
Mark felt the air completely leave his lungs. "She... she knows?"
"We'll see you in family court on Friday morning," Julian said, checking his gold watch. "Oh, and Mark? Look out the window."
Mark rushed to the floor-to-ceiling glass panel looking down at the street below.
May you like
Tow trucks were currently hoisting his brand-new Mercedes and his luxury SUV onto flatbeds.
"Those vehicles are registered to Vance Enterprises," Julian said cheerfully as he walked toward the elevator. "Valerie revoked the lease authorization twenty minutes ago. Have a wonderful workday!"
