Chapter 5 - The Mother-in-Law
Before Julian could be dealt with, I had a loose end to tie up.
Evelyn Vance was hosting her annual charity luncheon at the Plaza Hotel. It was an exclusive affair, wall-to-wall with Manhattan's elite. I was not on the guest list, but when you own the catering company that services the hotel, doors tend to open.
I walked into the grand ballroom just as Evelyn was giving her keynote speech, blathering about "family values" and "traditional grace."
I bypassed the security detail and walked straight up to the podium. The murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Eleanor?" Evelyn hissed, covering the microphone. "What on earth are you doing? Security!"
"Security works for me today, Evelyn," I said loudly, tapping the microphone so my voice echoed across the chandelier-lit room. "I just wanted to make a special announcement regarding the Vance family's immense generosity."
Evelyn's face paled. She tried to step away, but I locked my hand around her wrist.
"Evelyn’s shell companies have recently been liquidated," I announced to the room of gasping socialites. "It seems she over-leveraged her assets to fund a lavish lifestyle while simultaneously covering up her son's... indiscretions."
"You're insane!" Evelyn shrieked.
I pulled out a thick envelope and slammed it onto the podium. "These are the margin call documents. By 5:00 PM today, the Vance family estate in Southampton, this very charity fund, and your personal accounts will be seized by the creditors. You are bankrupt, Evelyn."
The silence in the room was deafening. Society friends who had been kissing her cheek ten minutes ago were now looking at her like she was carrying the plague.
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"You can't do this," she whispered, her arrogant facade crumbling into genuine terror.
"I just did. And tell your son," I leaned in close so only she could hear, "that if he ever looks for my daughter again, bankruptcy will be the least of his worries."
