Chapter 5 - The Collapse of Vance & Sterling
By noon, the internet had ignited. The hashtag #JusticeForMaya was trending globally. The elite, pristine image that Rebecca and David Vance had spent decades constructing collapsed in a matter of hours.
Outraged citizens flooded the phone lines of Vance & Sterling. Protesters began gathering outside their corporate offices in downtown Boston with signs demanding David’s termination.
At 2:00 PM, a press release was issued by the senior managing partners of Vance & Sterling:
"In light of recent disturbing evidence regarding Mr. David Vance's unacceptable personal conduct and ongoing legal investigations into financial irregularities, Vance & Sterling has immediately terminated Mr. Vance's partnership and severed all ties with the Vance family, effective immediately."
Maya sat at the dining room table, watching the news ticker in utter disbelief. "He... he got fired?"
"That’s just the beginning," I said.
Just then, my personal attorney, Eleanor Vance—ironically no relation to David’s family, but one of the fiercest divorce and corporate litigation lawyers in the state—walked into my house carrying three thick legal binders.
"Good afternoon, ladies," Eleanor said with a sharp, victorious grin. "The district attorney just formally filed charges against David Vance: felony domestic assault, battery, and harassment. But that’s not why I’m smiling."
"What else?" I asked.
"The forensic audit you ordered, Evelyn? The DA’s financial crimes unit took one look at the offshore wire transfers and issued an emergency freeze on all of David’s assets, as well as Rebecca Vance’s primary bank accounts," Eleanor announced. "They are officially broke until the trial concludes."
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Maya blinked. "Rebecca’s accounts too?"
"Rebecca accepted $300,000 of stolen funds into her personal trust," Eleanor explained. "That makes her an accessory to grand larceny and money laundering. The federal prosecutor is knocking on her door as we speak."
