Bank Director: Ma'am? Are you sure about this order?
Clara: You heard me, Arthur. Freeze every corporate account tied to the Vance Group immediately.
Bank Director: Right away, Miss Vance. It will be executed in three minutes.
Clara lowered the phone and looked out the dark window of the sedan as it pulled away from the gates of the estate.
Her cheek still throbbed where Julian had hit her, but her heart was entirely stone.
For two years, she had played the quiet, humble schoolteacher to see if Julian Vance loved her for who she was.
She had never mentioned her real last name—Clara Vance, sole heiress to Vance Global Holdings, the parent company that funded his family's entire empire.
Back inside the dining room, Julian straightened his tuxedo jacket and sat back down beside his mother.
Julian: She's just dramatic, Mom. She'll be crying on my doorstep by tomorrow morning.
Evelyn: She was an ungrateful little charity case anyway, Julian. You deserve a real socialite, not a girl who works for a living.
Julian: I know. I just wanted her family's land deed, but I can get that through the courts anyway.
Suddenly, Julian's phone buzzed aggressively against the table.
Julian: Hello?
Chief Financial Officer: Julian! We have a massive crisis at the firm!
Julian: What are you talking about, Greg? I'm having dinner.
Chief Financial Officer: All our credit lines were just cut off! The main bank just froze our primary accounts!
Julian: What?! That's impossible! We have a fifty-million-dollar rolling credit line with Vance Global!
Chief Financial Officer: The board of Vance Global just issued a emergency freeze on our entire mortgage trust fund!
Julian's face drained of color as he stood up from his chair, pulling the phone closer to his ear.
Julian: Why would Vance Global freeze our credit? They don't even inspect our accounts until next month!
Chief Financial Officer: I don't know, Julian! But the order came directly from the primary owner's desk!
Evelyn: Julian, what's wrong? Why do you look so pale?
Julian: Something's wrong with the bank accounts, Mom. They froze our funds.
Evelyn: Oh, it's just a bank glitch. Call our private banker right now!
Julian dialed his personal account manager with shaking fingers.
Banker: Mr. Vance, I was just about to call you.
Julian: What is going on with my corporate accounts, Mark?!
Banker: I'm sorry, sir. Your personal black card, your estate mortgage, and your corporate liquidity accounts have been locked by the primary trustee.
Julian: Who ordered this?! Who has the authority to freeze my money?!
Banker: The primary trustee of Vance Global, sir. Miss Clara Vance.
Julian froze in place. The phone almost slipped from his sweating fingers.
Julian: Miss... Clara Vance?
Banker: Yes, sir. She took full control of the trust twenty minutes ago.