Chapter 8 - The House of Cards
The fallout was biblical.
The Monday following the launch, Sterling Architecture ceased to exist as a functional entity. With Richard sitting in a federal holding cell awaiting bail, his remaining clients panicked. When they saw the undeniable proof of his sabotage attempt against Thorne Global, they severed their contracts immediately to avoid being implicated.
By Tuesday afternoon, Evelyn Vance executed the final blow. Because Richard had used company funds for illegal activities, his corporate veil was pierced. We didn't just seize the company; we seized his personal assets to satisfy the $4.2 million debt he owed me.
I stood in the lobby of Sterling Architecture alongside a team of federal auditors and moving men.
The receptionist, who used to ignore me when I brought Richard his lunch, stared wide-eyed as men began unbolting the modern art from the walls.
"Ms. Sterling," Richard's former CFO approached me, looking pale and sick. "We... we have no payroll. The accounts are frozen. What are we supposed to do?"
I looked at him. This was the same man who had laughed at my spreadsheet models. "You are unemployed, Tom. I suggest you update your resume. Though I wouldn't use Richard Sterling as a reference."
May you like
I walked into Richard's lavish corner office. The room where he had berated me, where he had dismissed my ideas as "meaningless hobbies." I walked over to his desk, picked up the crystal nameplate that read Richard Sterling, CEO, and dropped it straight into the metal trash can.
The sound echoed beautifully in the empty room.
