Chapter 4 - The Corporate Heist Exposed
The recorded voice of Marco echoed over the garden speakers:
“Once we announce it at the party in front of her investors and family, the scandal will destroy her reputation. The board of Aura Fine Jewelry has a morality clause. If she’s accused of child trafficking and illegal surrogacy, they’ll suspend her as CEO. I’ll step in as guardian of Leo’s trust, and we’ll take controlling shares of the brand.”
Then came Valerie’s cold, scheming laugh over the audio:
“And what about the stolen jewelry blueprints I took from her safe last month? The buyer in Dubai is offering three million for the uncut diamond collection designs.”
“Don't worry about the blueprints,” Marco’s recorded voice replied. “Once Andrea is cast out of the house, she’ll be too busy fighting for her freedom to worry about stolen designs. We’ll have everything.”
The recording clicked off.
A heavy, suffocating silence fell upon the mansion grounds.
Valerie’s face turned from pale white to a dark, humiliated crimson. She clutched her red designer handbag to her chest as if it could shield her from the glares of eighty outraged people.
Marco stumbled over a decorative garden stone, falling onto his hands and knees in the grass. He looked up at Andrea, his eyes wide with horror, pleading like a cornered rat.
“Andrea… baby… please!” Marco choked out, scrambling to his feet and reaching for her. “She forced me! Valerie threatened to tell you about our affair if I didn't help her steal the brand! She came up with the child plot! I love you! I love Leo! I was brainwashed!”
“Don’t you dare lay your hands on her!” a sharp voice roared from the edge of the patio.
A tall, broad-shouldered man in a tailored dark grey suit stepped through the French doors of the mansion. It was Julian Sterling, senior partner at Sterling & Vance Law, and Andrea’s lifelong legal advisor. Behind him walked four uniformed officers from the Chicago Police Department.
“Marco Vance,” Julian announced, his voice ringing with cold legal precision. “And Valerie Cross. Stand where you are.”
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“Julian?” Marco stammered, backing away toward the swimming pool. “This is a private marital dispute! Get these cops out of my house!”
“It stopped being a marital dispute the moment you committed grand larceny, corporate espionage, conspiracy to commit fraud, and child abuse,” Julian replied, gesturing to the lead police officer. “And by the way, Marco—this is not your house. The deed to this estate was bought solely under Andrea’s corporate trust three years before you married her. You own nothing here.”
