Chapter 15 - The Deposition in Suite 400
While David sped south toward the junction, I marched into Suite 400 of the Chancery annex, followed by Marcus and a team of four forensic accountants.
Julian was already seated at the end of the long conference table, flanked by an expensive, silver-haired defense attorney named Arthur Vance—a distant, estranged cousin of David's who had long harbored a bitter grudge against his own blood.
"Sarah," Julian said, offering a smug, insolent smile as I took the seat opposite him. "You look tired. Rebuilding an empire alone must be exhausting."
"I’m not alone, Julian," I said calmly, opening my leather portfolio. "And you look like a man whose credit cards were declined at the gas station this morning."
Julian’s smile twitched, but Arthur Vance cut in, resting his manicured hands on the table. "Mrs. Sterling, we have presented sworn affidavits showing that your father's 1998 covenant restricts the trust to legitimate lineage. Unless you are willing to submit your son, Leo, to a public paternity inquiry and surrender forty percent of the operating assets to Julian, this injunction will freeze all commercial liquidity by 1:00 PM."
"Did you read the 2004 codicil, Arthur?" I asked smoothly, sliding a certified document across the polished oak table.
Arthur frowned, glancing down. Julian’s smirk began to waver.
"My father didn't just write a will; he wrote an audit," I explained, leaning forward, pinning Julian with an icy stare. "In 2004, when Julian stole three hundred thousand dollars from the payroll fund to cover his offshore gambling debts in Nassau, my father removed him entirely from the core bloodline trust. In fact, Father legally transferred Julian's future inheritance into an irrevocable trust held solely in *my* name, conditioned on his future conduct."
"That’s a forgery!" Julian shouted, slamming his fist on the table, his composure cracking completely.
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"It bears your father's authentic biometric thumbprint, Julian, registered with the Tennessee Department of Commerce," Marcus stated with razor-sharp authority. "And furthermore, Arthur... you might want to look at page four. Because your firm accepted a retainer fee paid directly from that frozen account this morning. That constitutes fraudulent conveyance of contested trust funds. If you don't withdraw this motion right now, I will file for your immediate disbarment."
Arthur Vance turned pale, staring at the document in horror. He slowly pulled his hands back from the table.
