The conference room fell into dead silence, no one willing to defend him anymore.
Finally, the board passed the removal motion 72, effective immediately.
After the meeting, Dn cornered me in the emergency stairwell. The dim corridor lighting cast half his face in brightness, half in shadow, making him took particrly menacing.
His voice was hoarse: “Ste, do you have to push me to the brink?”
I turned sideways and pulled a divorce agreement from my bag: “It’s not the brink-it’s an exit. Transfer all my shares from Ster Trust No. 1 back to me, 331 sign the divorce papers, and I won’t pursue thepany ounting issues anymore.”
He flipped through the agreement, and after scanning the uses, suddenlyughed coldly: “You want me to trade a billion for freedom?”
“That billion was my pre-marital assets anyway. You were just the trustee.” I corrected him, voice calm but brooking no argument. “Now, I just want you to leave with nothing-trust, properties, stocks, leave it all behind. You walk away,”
He gripped the agreement tighter, eyes full of resentment: “What if I don’t sign?”
I raised my hand in signal, and Rex walked up the stairs with two uniformed financial crimes officers, their footsteps echoing clearly in the empty corridor.
“Mr. Morrison, we’ve received reports that you’re suspected of embezzlement and illegal foreign exchange transfers. Please cooperate with the investigation.”
The officer’s voice was serious, leaving no room for negotiation.
In the detention room, Dn had shed all pretense-hair disheveled against his forehead, yes bloodshot.
I sat across from him and pushed over a printed A4 sheet: [Voluntary Relinquishment of Trust Protector Status and All Marital Community Property Deration
He stared at the line of text, eyes rimmed red, voice trembling: “Ste Parker, aren’t you afraid I’ll drag us both down?” <fnd031> This text is hosted at f?ndnovel</fnd031>
Your brother Dn Jr. is studying in the UK-tuition is 500,000 pounds a year. After the trust is frozen, he’ll have to drop out next month.”
I spoke tly, cataloging his vulnerabilities.
And your father’s retirement home in NY-I paid the down payment, and the contract is also under the trust name. I just need to submit proof of debt for the
court to seize it.”
I pressed the fountain pen into his hand: “Sign, and you’re free. Don’t sign, and we all sink together.”
Ten minutester, he finally loosened his grip, the pen tip trembling out one final arc on the paper, like severing our five-year marriage.
I collected the document and stood to leave.
He suddenly called out to stop me: “Ste, when did you start nning all this?”
I stood at the door, back turned to him, voice without a ripple: “From the day you refused to give my mom $2000.”
Walking out of the detention center, I called Rex: “Phase twoplete. Initiate phase three-asset repatriation.”
Rex whistled on the other end: “Roger. Tonight 8 PM, Swiss custodian bank online hearing. Be on time.”
I hung up and looked toward the sky.
The $2000 was just the fuse. What I really wanted to blow up was the golden cage he thought was impregnable and could keep me firmly in his grasp, along with his vastly different attitudes toward supporting both sets of parents.