Chapter 5 - Desperate Measures
Stripped of his executive title and with his personal assets frozen under court order, Grant retreated to a high-end luxury hotel suite in downtown Bellevue—paid for using one of Vanessa’s remaining un-frozen credit cards.
"This is insane, Grant!" Vanessa shrieked, pacing the suite while clutching a glass of white wine. "The bank just declined my card at the spa! They said my accounts are linked to a federal asset forfeiture hold! How does Claire have this kind of power?!"
"Shut up, Vanessa!" Grant roared, pouring himself three fingers of straight bourbon. "She doesn't have this power! It's her bastard uncle, Thomas! He’s been orchestrating this from the beginning!"
"We need to leave," Vanessa said, her voice shaking with panicked anxiety. "We have the offshore accounts in Grand Cayman! There’s four million dollars in that account. We can buy tickets to Dubai tonight!"
Grant pulled out his secondary burner phone and dialed his offshore asset manager in the Caribbean.
"Julian," Grant said urgently into the receiver. "Initiate an immediate wire transfer of the entire balance in the Apex Holdings account to the Zurich private ledger. Now."
There was a long pause on the line.
"Mr. Mercer?" the asset manager’s voice came through, sounding strained. "I'm afraid that account was flagged three hours ago by the United States Department of the Treasury under a Forensic Larceny Injunction."
Grant’s hand went numb. "What?"
"A team of federal forensic auditors presented evidence that the funds deposited into Apex Holdings were stolen directly from a trust account belonging to the Bennett Estate. The account is frozen pending criminal forfeiture proceedings."
The phone slid from Grant’s fingers, dropping onto the plush carpet.
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Vanessa grabbed his arm violently. "Grant? What did he say? What about our money?!"
Grant stared blankly at the wall ahead. For the first time in his life, he realized the terrifying depth of the trap he had walked into. Claire wasn't just taking his money; she was erasing his entire existence.
