CHAPTER 3: THE EMPIRE COLLAPSES
Andrew woke to forty-three missed calls.
He frowned.
His phone continued vibrating.
His chief financial officer.
His bank.
His legal department.
His investors.
Even his personal accountant.
"What the hell..."
Before he could answer—
The bedroom door burst open.
His assistant stumbled inside, pale with panic.
"Sir..."
"We have a problem."
Andrew frowned.
"What happened?"
"Our accounts..."
"They're frozen."
"What?"
"The banks suspended every corporate transaction."
His stomach tightened.
"That's impossible."
Another phone rang.
His CFO.
Andrew answered immediately.
"Tell me this is a mistake."
The voice on the other end trembled.
"It isn't."
"Our operating capital is gone."
"Our lenders demanded immediate repayment."
"Our investors are pulling out."
Andrew's face drained of color.
"But why?"
The answer came seconds later.
A television mounted on the bedroom wall suddenly interrupted its morning broadcast.
BREAKING NEWS.
STERLING CAPITAL FACES SUDDEN FINANCIAL CRISIS.
Then another headline appeared.
ESCALANTE GLOBAL ASSUMES DIRECT CONTROL OF MAJORITY SHARES.
Andrew froze.
Escalante...
His heartbeat accelerated.
Brenda walked downstairs wearing silk pajamas.
She glanced at the television.
"What does that even mean?"
No one answered.
Margaret grabbed the remote with shaking hands.
The news anchor continued.
"Corporate records confirm that Sterling Capital has, for years, operated under financing provided by the privately held Escalante Family Trust."
"Primary shareholder..."
The screen displayed a photograph.
Mariana.
The room fell silent.
Brenda laughed nervously.
"That's fake."
"It has to be."
Then the front gate opened.
Six black executive cars entered the property.
Behind them—
Government auditors.
Court officers.
Corporate attorneys.
Andrew rushed outside.
Victor stepped forward.
He handed Andrew a sealed envelope.
"You've been officially removed as acting CEO."
Andrew stared.
"No..."
"This company is mine."
Victor calmly opened another folder.
"It never was."
"You were an employee."
"You simply didn't know it."
Andrew ripped open the documents.
Every signature.
Every share certificate.
Every controlling vote.
Belonged to Mariana.
His hands began shaking.
Behind him—
Brenda quietly stepped backward.
May you like
Margaret collapsed into a chair.
The illusion was over.
