Chapter 7 - The Deposition
Three weeks later, we sat in a luxurious, glass-walled conference room for Julian’s formal deposition.
Julian sat across the table, flanked by three high-priced corporate lawyers.
He looked exhausted, the viral internet backlash having aged him ten years in under a month.
Marcus sat beside me, calm and collected as he adjusted his tie.
The court reporter started her machine, and Marcus immediately went on the offensive.
“Mr. Vance, do you recognize this document?” Marcus asked, sliding a copy of the grandfather’s trust across the table.
Julian’s lead lawyer immediately objected, claiming it was irrelevant to the assault case.
“It establishes motive, counsel,” Marcus replied sharply.
“My client is filing a civil suit for conspiracy to commit fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
Julian stared at the document, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.
“I have never seen that paper in my life,” Julian lied under oath.
Marcus smiled, pulling out a digital tablet.
“That is fascinating, considering we subpoenaed your private email server,” Marcus said smoothly.
He pressed a button, and an email appeared on the screen for everyone to read.
It was a message from Julian to Beatrice, dated two days before the banquet.
"I found a way to trigger the morality clause. I'll handle the brat at the party. The money stays ours."
The color completely drained from Julian’s face.
His lawyers started aggressively whispering to each other in sheer panic.
They knew the case was dead; Julian had just committed perjury on top of leaving a digital paper trail of premeditated fraud.
“Do you want to revise your previous answer, Mr. Vance?” Marcus asked politely.
Julian remained completely silent, staring at the table in absolute defeat.
May you like
I looked at him, feeling no pity, only a fierce, protective triumph.
The predator was finally trapped in a cage of his own making.
