Chapter 8 - The Legal AvalanchePenelope stood up straight, trying to regain her majestic, regal posture despite the ruin around her. “This entire situation is completely absurd! We are the Crest family! We have the best corporate attorneys in the entire city on retainer! You will be ruined by morning!”
“That is fine, Penelope. Because I also happen to have an excellent attorney,” I replied smoothly.
Right on cue, my smartphone began to ring loudly in my hand, its screen illuminating the dark corner of the room.
I pressed the button to answer the call, instantly switching it to speakerphone so everyone in the room could hear the calm, professional male voice on the other end.
“Mrs. Pembroke?” the voice asked, crisp and clear.
“This is Mr. Davenport calling to confirm that all emergency petitions have been officially filed with the court tonight,” the lawyer continued. “The temporary protective order request against Gavin Crest is signed by the judge and ready for immediate police delivery.”
“Furthermore, the immediate lease termination notices for 'Gavin Crest Designs' and 'Lawrence Crest Consulting' have been processed and will be formally served tomorrow morning at dawn.”
The lawyer paused for a brief second before delivering the final blow. “Also, per your explicit instructions, we have already notified the federal banking authorities regarding suspected marital asset coercion, tax fraud within the shell corporations, and systematic financial abuse.”
Gavin grabbed the edge of the mahogany table so tightly that his knuckles turned completely white, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
“You can't do this! You cannot possibly touch my business! It’s my private property! I built it!” he shouted at the phone in absolute desperation.
I looked at him with nothing but pity. “I own the actual commercial building where your luxury showroom is located, Gavin. And under section twelve of your commercial lease, a criminal charge for domestic violence on the property grounds or against a trust beneficiary constitutes an immediate, un-appealable violation. Your business is evicted.”
Lawrence rounded on his son, his face purple with pure, unadulterated fury. He grabbed Gavin by the lapels of his expensive suit.
“You idiot! You told us this old woman was completely broke! You told us she was harmless! You said she was a nobody!” he yelled, shaking his own son.
Gavin shouted back in absolute desperation, his voice cracking. “She was absolutely supposed to be broke! Her bank accounts are empty! I checked them myself!”
There it was. The final admission.
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It was the exact sentence that completely ended his life as he knew it. The lead police officer looked up from his notebook with a stern, dangerous expression.
“What exactly do you mean by 'supposed to be' broke, sir? Are you admitting to intentionally manipulating her financial status?” the officer questioned, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt.
