Chapter 8 - The House of Cards Collapses
Marcus was escorted out of the Sterling Global building by two massive security guards. He didn't even get to ride back in the elevator with his former bosses. They left him on the curb.
Panicking, he pulled out his phone and called Elena. He needed someone to stroke his ego. He needed someone to tell him he was still a winner.
She answered on the second ring. "Marcus? How did the pitch go? Are we celebrating tonight?"
"Elena, listen to me," Marcus said, pacing the sidewalk. "Things went sideways. Richard is crazy. He fired me. But it's fine! I'm going to sue them for wrongful termination. I need you to come to the condo."
The line went dead silent.
"Fired?" Elena asked, her sweet tone dropping instantly to ice. "What do you mean fired?"
"It's a long story. Clara’s family—"
"Did Richard find out about us?" she interrupted, her voice shrill. "Marcus, I just got called into HR. They have photos. They just fired me too!"
"Elena, baby, it's okay, we'll figure it out—"
"Don't call me baby!" she screamed. "You told me you were going to be a senior partner! You told me you were rich! You're a fraud, Marcus! Don't ever contact me again!"
The call disconnected. Marcus stared at his phone, his chest heaving.
He hailed a cab to go back to his condo, realizing his keys to the Vanguard office were already deactivated. When he arrived at his luxury apartment building, the concierge stopped him in the lobby.
"Mr. Vance, I'm sorry, but your keycard has been locked. The leasing office received a notice of default on your rent, and your bank accounts have flagged all your recent transfers for fraud. We have orders not to let you upstairs."
"That's illegal! You can't evict me without notice!" Marcus yelled, causing a scene.
"It's not an eviction, sir. It's an asset freeze by the federal authorities. They are investigating you for embezzling firm funds to pay for your luxury car lease," the concierge said coldly, reading from a clipboard.
Marcus stumbled backward out of the lobby. He walked toward the parking garage to at least sleep in his Audi. But as he turned the corner, he saw a tow truck backing up to his pristine, silver vehicle.
"Hey! That's my car!" Marcus shouted, running forward.
The tow truck driver held up a clipboard. "Not anymore, buddy. Lease is three months past due, and the dealership pulled the contract due to suspected financial fraud. Step back."
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Marcus watched in horror as the car he loved more than his wife was hoisted into the air and towed down the street. In the span of three hours, he had lost his job, his mistress, his home, and his car.
He was standing on the sidewalk. It began to rain.
