Chapter 4 - The Escalation at Country Club
By Wednesday afternoon, news of Sterling Logistics’ sudden debt acceleration had leaked into high-society circles.
Julian’s mother, Eleanor, remained blissfully ignorant of the scale of the disaster. She spent her afternoon at the prestigious Crestview Country Club, sitting by the heated pool with her wealthy socialite friends, boasting about her son's corporate success and gossiping about the "cheap girl" Julian had kicked out of his house.
"I gave her a simple financial agreement," Eleanor said loudly, adjusting her diamond tennis bracelet while sipping a mimosa. "Three thousand a month to live in Julian's estate! And do you know what she did? She threw a temper tantrum and walked out! Good riddance, I say. My Julian deserves a woman from real money."
Her friends smiled politely, though several of them exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Suddenly, the glass double doors of the country club terrace swung open.
The club manager—a man who usually treated Eleanor with royalty-level deference—rushed toward her table, looking pale and flustered.
"Mrs. Sterling," the manager whispered nervously. "We have an urgent issue regarding your membership status."
Eleanor scoffed, setting her glass down on the iron table. "Membership status? What are you talking about, Arthur? My family has held a gold tier membership here for five years!"
"Mrs. Sterling," a smooth, authoritative female voice cut through the air.
The crowd of socialites turned their heads.
I walked onto the sunny terrace, flanked by two private security guards in sharp black suits. I wore a backless emerald silk dress, black oversized sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed straw hat.
Behind me walked the Chairman of Crestview Country Club, Mr. Harrison Drake—a billionaire real estate mogul who usually ignored low-level members like Eleanor.
Eleanor jumped out of her lounge chair, pointing a trembling, manicured finger at me.
"You!" Eleanor shrieked. "How dare you show your face here?! Security! Drag this beggar out! She's trespassing!"
Mr. Drake stepped forward, his expression cold as ice. "Mrs. Sterling, lower your voice immediately."
Eleanor blinked, confused. "Mr. Drake? Why are you standing with her? She's my son's disgraced ex-wife! She doesn't even have a club pass!"
"She doesn't need a pass, Eleanor," Mr. Drake replied coldly. "Miss Vance owns the ground you are currently standing on. Apex Capital Partners purchased ninety percent of the equity in Crestview Country Club three hours ago."
Eleanor’s jaw dropped. "What?!"
I stepped toward her table, pulling my sunglasses down to look her straight in the eye.
"Hello, Eleanor," I said softly. "I heard you were talking about what kind of woman Julian deserves."
Eleanor stared at me, her eyes darting from my emerald silk dress to Mr. Drake, then to the two hulking security guards behind me. "Sienna... what... what is the meaning of this prank?"
"It's no prank, Eleanor," I smiled gently. "You see, Crestview Country Club has a strict policy regarding financial responsibility. Members who are associated with active corporate fraud and impending personal bankruptcy are deemed a liability to our reputation."
I turned to Mr. Drake. "Is that correct, Chairman?"
"That is correct, Miss Vance," Mr. Drake bowed slightly. "Mrs. Sterling’s membership has been revoked, effective immediately. Her auxiliary house account has been frozen due to unpaid dues."
Eleanor turned bright red with humiliation as thirty of her wealthiest peers watched the scene unfold, whispering and taking videos on their phones.
"You can't do this to me!" Eleanor screamed, her voice cracking. "My son is Julian Sterling! He owns Sterling Logistics!"
"Your son's company is currently being seized by my legal team, Eleanor," I replied smoothly, picking up her mimosa from the table and pouring it slowly onto the paved stone floor. "And as for your monthly dues... I believe they were three thousand dollars a month."
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I looked down at her with pure, unadulterated contempt.
"Pay up, Eleanor. Or pack your cheap bags."
