Chapter 3 - The Eviction
"You're bluffing," Eleanor, my mother-in-law, hissed, stepping out from behind her husband. She clutched her diamond necklace as if it might be snatched from her throat. "We are the Sterlings! We built this city!"
"You built nothing, Eleanor. You inherited it, mismanaged it, and begged me to save it," I said, finally looking the woman in the eye. "And tonight, you laughed while your son hit me."
I turned to the crowd. Five hundred of the city's elite were watching the great Sterling empire crumble in real-time.
"To all the guests," my father announced. "The gala is officially over. The valet will bring your cars around. I suggest you distance yourselves from the Sterlings, as they are currently under investigation for corporate fraud."
Panic set in. Investors and politicians practically sprinted for the exits, desperate to avoid being associated with a sinking ship. In less than ten minutes, the grand ballroom was empty, save for my family, my security, and the three Sterlings.
"Get out," I told Julian.
"Clara, baby, please," Julian begged, his arrogance completely gone. He reached for my hand.
My father’s security guards immediately stepped forward, placing their hands on their holsters. Julian yanked his hand back.
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"Leave the premises immediately, or you will be arrested for trespassing," the attorney stated.
Arthur, Eleanor, and Julian were escorted out of the service entrance into the freezing rain. They didn't even have their coats.
