Chapter 16: Freezing the Assets
238 words
Preston’s threats on the recording were clear: bribery, intimidation, and admission of malicious intent. Vance didn't wait. He filed an emergency motion at 8:00 AM. By noon, the judge had heard the tape.
We sat in Vance’s office, watching a live stream from a paparazzi feed. Preston was at Le Monde, the city’s most expensive restaurant, entertaining three models.
"Watch this," Vance said, sipping his coffee. "The asset freeze attorney struck five minutes ago."
On the screen, a waiter whispered to Preston. Preston waved him off and handed over a black card. The waiter returned seconds later, shaking his head. Preston laughed and handed another card. Declined.
"What do you mean declined?" Preston roared on the video, standing up. He checked his phone. His banking app must have shown zero access. His face contorted in pure, unadulterated panic.
"It's not just credit card debt alerts," Vance narrated with grim satisfaction. "We froze his personal accounts, his hedge fund access, and his offshore shells pending a forensic accounting audit."
On screen, Preston flipped the table. Crystal shattered. The models screamed and scattered. He was screaming at the waiter, at his phone, at the world.
"He's penniless," Vance said softly. "At least until the trial. And by then, he'll be in prison."
For the first time in months, I smiled. It wasn't a nice smile. It was the smile of the steel core he had tried to break.
End of Chapter 16
