Chapter 4 - The House of Cards Collapses
Nathan snatched the microphone back up, sweating through the collar of his custom tuxedo.
"Wait! Mr. Thorne, this is a misunderstanding! Clara is my sister, yes, but she's always been rebellious! She distorts things! If she told you we mistreated her, she was lying! Look at the business—my logistics firm, Apex Sea-Freight, we just partnered with Dupont! We control forty percent of the coastal cargo routes! We can work together! There’s no reason to let family squabbles interfere with our joint ventures!"
Alexander didn't even look at him. He simply raised two fingers toward his lead security officer. "Julian."
Julian stepped forward, pulled an encrypted tablet from his breast pocket, and tapped the glass twice.
"At 2:14 PM," Julian announced in a loud, flat voice that echoed off the vaulted ceiling, "Thorne Maritime revoked all dock leases for Apex Sea-Freight across Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. All incoming vessels belonging to the Vance fleet are currently being turned away by the Port Authority due to immediate contract termination."
"What?" Nathan screamed, his voice turning into an octave of pure panic. "You can't do that! We have perishable cargo on three container ships outside Long Island! If they don't dock by midnight, the contracts default!"
"They will default," Alexander said smoothly. "And at 2:15 PM, the Thorne Financial Group exercised the acceleration clause on the forty-two million dollars in mezzanine loans held against Vance Properties. You have until four o'clock this afternoon to deposit the principal in full."
Alexander looked down at his platinum Patek Philippe.
"You have one hour and forty-one minutes, Nathan. I suggest you start counting your pennies."
Vanessa turned on Nathan like a cornered viper. She shoved him hard in the chest, completely forgetting her vows, her dress, and the hundreds of society guests filming on their phones.
"Nathan! What is he talking about?! My father signed over our shipping rights based on your collateral! If your loans default, my family's trust fund is frozen!"
"Shut up, Vanessa!" Nathan roared, his composure crumbling into hysterical fury. "Dad! Do something! Call Senator Miller! Call the governor!"
Arthur’s hands shook so violently he dropped his champagne flute. The crystal shattered on the stone, the golden liquid splashing across his polished shoes.
"Mr. Thorne... Alexander..." Arthur stammered, his arrogance completely evaporating into pathetic desperation. "Please. We are men of business. We are reasonable men. Clara is my daughter! My flesh and blood! What happens between a father and his child is a private matter! You cannot destroy forty years of industrial legacy over an argument!"
"It wasn't an argument," Alexander replied. "It was an assault."
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Alexander turned to me, his hand resting firmly on the small of my back, anchoring me against the storm. "Clara, my love. Tell him what he stole from you."
***
