Driver: Are you alright, Mrs. Sterling?
Claire: I am perfectly fine, Marcus. Get us out of here.
Driver: We are heading back to the penthouse in the city?
Claire: Yes. But first, give me a moment of quiet.
Claire sat back against the leather seat of the dark car. She opened her purse.
She pulled out her sleek white smartphone and dialed a private number.
Lawyer: Good evening, Claire. I wasn't expecting to hear from you tonight.
Claire: Change of plans, David. The situation at the mansion escalated.
Lawyer: Did Julian sign the restructuring papers?
Claire: No. He pushed me to the floor and told me to get out.
Lawyer: He put his hands on you? I am calling the police right now.
Claire: No police. Not yet. I want to handle this my way.
Lawyer: What are your instructions?
Claire: Freeze everything.
Lawyer: Everything? Even the primary estate accounts?
Claire: Every single account attached to my holding company. They want to act like billionaires, let them pay for it.
Lawyer: They don't know you bought out their debt, do they?
Claire: Julian thinks his father left him a fortune. He has no idea his father left him bankrupt.
Lawyer: And that you used your own tech company money to quietly pay off the mortgage.
Claire: Exactly. My name is on the deed. My company owns the trust fund. My money pays for that mansion.
Lawyer: I will initiate the freeze immediately. Their credit cards will be declined by morning.
Claire: Good. Call the bank manager too. Revoke Julian's access to the corporate boardroom.
Lawyer: He is going to be furious when the security badges don't work.
Claire: Let him be furious. What about Beatrice?
Lawyer: She receives a monthly allowance from the family trust. I can suspend it pending a legal review.
Claire: Suspend it. She told me I belong on the floor. Let's see how she likes hitting rock bottom.
Lawyer: It is done, Claire. Are you sure you want to go through with this divorce?
Claire: There is no turning back now, David. Draft the divorce settlement.
Lawyer: I will make sure he walks away with nothing.
Claire: He already has nothing. He just doesn't realize it yet.