Chapter 5 - The Trap Springs
Julian whipped his head toward me. "What the hell are you talking about? I built Thorne Innovations!"
"You built a house of cards," I corrected him. "And five years ago, when you almost bankrupted the company the first time, you took a massive bailout loan from an anonymous private equity firm."
"Yes," Julian snapped. "Vanguard Apex. We paid them back in stock options."
"I know," I smiled. "I'm the CEO of Vanguard Apex."
The silence in the courtroom was so profound you could hear the air conditioning humming.
Julian’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. "No. No, that's impossible. Your grandfather—"
"My grandfather put everything in my name before he died, Julian. I own 62% of Thorne Innovations' voting shares. I have absolute controlling interest. I let you play CEO because I thought you loved our family. But you didn't. So now, playtime is over."
I turned to Judge Barrett.
"Your Honor, as the majority shareholder of Thorne Innovations, I am legally seizing all of Julian Thorne's remaining assets to cover the $1.4 billion he embezzled from my company. I do not want alimony. I do not want a settlement. I want him stripped of his shares, his title, and his bank accounts. I want full, unmitigated custody of my brilliant son. And I want an immediate divorce."
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Julian collapsed into his chair as if he had been shot. His high-priced lawyers pushed away from him, physically creating distance from a man they knew was now radioactive.
Judge Barrett didn't even hesitate. "Motion granted. Mr. Thorne, your assets are hereby frozen pending a federal criminal investigation. This court is adjourned."
