Chapter 5 - The Closing Net
By day nine, the walls were closing in on David Bennett with the speed of a freight train.
Seated in the captain's quarters of The Azure Horizon, David stared at his satellite phone in sheer disbelief. The screen flashed a bank alert notification: Account frozen due to suspicious activity and pending federal freeze orders.
He tried to log into his primary investment portal, but access was permanently denied. Panic, cold and sharp, flooded his veins. He rushed out onto the deck where Julianne was sipping another mimosa.
"Julianne, pack your things. We're cutting the trip short. Now."
Julianne blinked, lowering her sunglasses. "Are you out of your mind? We have five days left! What do you mean pack our things?"
"My accounts are frozen," David snapped, his face turning pale as he frantically dialed his private wealth manager in Chicago. The line rang three times before a cold, mechanical voice answered: You have reached the office of legal counsel for Claire Bennett. All inquiries must be directed through her representatives.
David dropped the phone. It clattered against the teak deck, the screen cracking against the boards.
"Claire?" Julianne whispered, sitting up in alarm. "What does Claire have to do with this?"
"She knows," David muttered, running a trembling hand through his hair. "She somehow knows about the offshore holdings."
May you like
"Well, call her! Tell her to fix it!" Julianne yelled, her voice pitching into panic. "My cut of the liquidation was supposed to hit my account tomorrow!"
David stared at her, the illusion of his charming, carefree mistress shattering instantly. In her eyes, he saw not affection, but raw, naked greed. And for the first time, he realized the monster he had tied himself to was just as desperate as he was.
