Chapter 5 - The Eviction
The townhouse Julian had so smugly claimed as "his" in the divorce papers was a beautiful, three-story brownstone in the city's most exclusive district. He had purchased it using the embezzled funds, putting the deed strictly in his name, leaving me off the paperwork entirely.
But Julian wasn't half as smart as he thought he was.
The land the townhouse sat on, the entire block, in fact, was owned by a real estate holding company called 'C.S. Properties.' C.S. stood for Clara Sterling.
Julian had returned to the townhouse after the disastrous board meeting, desperate for a drink and a place to hide. Vanessa was already there, screaming about her declined credit cards.
I sat in the back of a tinted Maybach parked across the street, watching the scene unfold alongside Arthur and two lawyers.
Julian put his key into the front door, but it wouldn't turn. He jiggled it violently, swearing under his breath. He tried the keypad. The code had been changed.
Suddenly, a team of men in suits walked up the steps. They were Arthur’s property managers, accompanied by two city sheriffs.
“Mr. Vance?” the lead manager asked.
“Who the hell are you? Let me into my house!” Julian demanded, his face red with stress and alcohol.
“This property is in violation of its ground lease due to fraudulent financial activity used in the purchase of the structure,” the manager stated flatly, handing Julian a thick stack of legal documents. “The landowner has repossessed the property. You have exactly fifteen minutes to gather your personal belongings under the supervision of these officers. Everything else remains.”
Vanessa shrieked. “Julian! What is going on?! Where are we supposed to go?!”
May you like
“Shut up, Vanessa!” Julian snapped, his facade completely shattering.
I watched through the tinted glass as they were escorted inside by the police, only to emerge fifteen minutes later with nothing but three suitcases between them. The townhouse—the home I had decorated, the nursery I had painted for my twins—was officially out of his tainted hands.
