Chapter 6 - The Freefall of Cole & Sterling
The financial fallout for Adrian’s company was catastrophic. The international conglomerate that was supposed to merge with Cole & Sterling pulled out of the deal within forty-eight hours of the press conference, citing a total failure of ethical compliance.
Cole & Sterling’s stock price plummeted by twenty percent in a single day.
I received a frantic call from Richard Sterling’s personal cell phone. "Evelyn, please. We have terminated Adrian permanently. We have stripped him of his stock options and his severance package. We want to settle Rosa’s lawsuit out of court. Name your figure."
"The settlement will include a full, public admission of corporate negligence," I demanded. "An independent oversight committee appointed by my foundation to monitor your domestic staff working conditions, and a seven-figure trust fund established for Rosa and her child's healthcare and education."
"Done," Sterling gasped, sounding like a drowning man. "Just pull the federal filing."
"The corporate settlement is done," I said. "But Adrian Cole’s personal legal troubles are just beginning."
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That evening, Vance contacted me with a breakthrough. While analyzing Adrian’s personal financial accounts for the lawsuit, his team discovered a pattern of systematic tax evasion and offshore shell companies used to hide money from his family’s estate.
Adrian hadn't just ruined his career; his greed had left a trail of financial breadcrumbs that could put him behind bars.
