Chapter 6 - The $1.5 Million Mistress
Amber was exactly what Victoria expected: young, arrogant, and entirely blinded by Julian’s stolen wealth.
At 10:00 A.M. the following day, Amber walked into the lobby of Vanguard Real Estate Development carrying a $5,000 Chanel bag paid for by Victoria’s corporate account. She strutted past the reception desk, flashing a smug smile, believing that with Julian soon to inherit the empire, she would be the new queen of the castle.
When Amber reached the executive floor, she found Julian’s massive corner office completely empty. The custom mahogany desk had been cleared. The artwork was gone.
Sitting in the center of the room behind a temporary folding table was Victoria.
Amber froze, her smug smile vanishing instantly. “Mrs. Vance. What... what are you doing here? Where is Julian?”
“Julian is currently wearing an orange jumpsuit, using a metal toilet in front of three other inmates,” Victoria said pleasantly, taking a sip of her decaf coffee. “Take a seat, Amber.”
Amber’s face paled. “I don't know what you’re talking about. I’m just his assistant.”
“You are a parasite,” Victoria corrected her smoothly. “And a remarkably stupid one at that.”
Victoria tossed a thick legal folder onto the table.
“I visited Julian’s safety deposit box this morning, courtesy of a court order,” Victoria explained. “Inside, I found the flight tickets to Aspen. I found the deed to a ski chalet bought with embezzled funds from my company. And I found a very interesting series of text messages printed out.”
Amber took a step back toward the door, her hands shaking. “I want my lawyer.”
“You can’t afford a lawyer, Amber. Because Julian is broke. He doesn't own this company. I do. Every dime he spent on you was stolen from me. Which means, as of this morning, my legal team has filed a civil suit against you for the recovery of stolen assets.”
Amber let out a strangled gasp. “You can’t do that! They were gifts!”
“I am taking back the car. I am repossessing your luxury apartment. I am freezing your bank accounts,” Victoria said, her voice remaining perfectly, terrifyingly calm. “Unless you do exactly what I say.”
Amber broke instantly. The facade of the confident mistress shattered, leaving behind a terrified twenty-two-year-old girl who realized she was swimming with a great white shark.
“What do you want?!” Amber cried. “I’ll do anything! Please, don't ruin my life!”
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“Tomorrow is Julian’s bail hearing,” Victoria smiled, resting her hands on her pregnant belly. “You are going to take the stand as a witness for the prosecution. You are going to testify, under oath, that Julian explicitly told you he planned to murder me for the insurance money. If you do that, I’ll let you walk away with the clothes on your back.”
Amber nodded frantically, tears ruining her expensive makeup. “I’ll do it. I swear to God, I’ll do it.”
