Chapter 13 - The Frozen Account
By dawn the following morning, the front gates of Harbor House were surrounded by six black sedans. The men stepping out didn't wear uniforms; they wore tailored Italian suits and carried leather briefcases bearing the insignia of the State Banking Commission.
Julian met them at the threshold, his coat draped over his broad shoulders like armor. I stood right beside him, refusing to cower inside the walls we had fought so hard to erect.
"Mr. Sterling, Ms. Cole," the lead official said, displaying an official court injunction. "I am Commissioner Hayes. By emergency order of the Seventh District Chancery Court, all operating capital, trust endowments, and municipal grants tied to Harbor House have been frozen pending an investigation into fraudulent asset transfer."
"On what possible grounds?" Julian demanded, his voice dropping into the icy register that terrified opposing counsel in federal court. "The Sterling Trust vetted every single dollar that built this facility. The seizure of Daniel Cole’s assets was signed by Judge Thornton himself."
"Judge Thornton’s order pertained to assets solely titled in Daniel Cole’s name," Commissioner Hayes replied smoothly, handing Julian a copy of the filing. "Late yesterday afternoon, Harbor Holdings LLC filed a petition demonstrating that forty percent of the renovation funding derived from co-mingled trust accounts owned by Chloe Vance. Under state law, this property is subject to immediate lien attachment."
The world seemed to tilt beneath me. "Chloe Vance poured foundation down my dress in front of two hundred people to destroy my dignity, and now she’s claiming she paid to build my shelter?"
"The law doesn't adjudicate emotional grievances, Ms. Cole," Hayes said, completely devoid of empathy. "Unless you can produce fifteen million dollars in liquid escrow by five o’clock on Friday, a court-appointed receiver will take control of this facility. The residents currently housed inside will be transferred to county overflow shelters."
"You can't move them," I said, stepping directly into Hayes's path. "Those women are in hiding from violent predators. You put them in an unmonitored municipal dormitory, and their locations will be leaked in twenty-four hours."
"Then I suggest you find fifteen million dollars, Ms. Cole," Hayes replied, stepping back toward his car. "Or prepare to surrender the keys."
As the black sedans pulled away, leaving a plume of exhaust against the morning fog, Julian pulled out his phone. "I can liquidate my personal portfolio in New York by Thursday. It will cover eight million."
May you like
"No," I said, placing my hand over his phone. "You have already put your career and your life on the line for me, Julian. If Daniel and Chloe want a financial war, they’re going to get one. But this time, I’m not fighting them in their playground. I’m bringing them into the light."
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