Chapter 10 - The Closing Circle
The doors of the leading sedan clicked open, and two men in sharp dark suits stepped out onto the gravel, walking with the deliberate, unhurried pace of federal investigators or high-level corporate liquidators.
George spun around, his face draining of all color as he stared at the approaching vehicles. "What... what is this? Who are they?"
I didn't answer him. I stepped out onto the porch, looking past George toward the lead man who had just stopped at the bottom of the steps.
"Mrs. Vance," the man said, tipping his head respectfully. "Mr. Rhodes sent us to ensure the transition paperwork is executed without interference. We have the court-stamped asset seizure warrants for Vance & Co. Salon and all secondary corporate accounts linked to Arthur and George Vance."
George let out a choked gasp, stumbling backward against his car door. "No... no, that's impossible! You can't do that! I have rights!"
"Your rights ended when you abandoned a minor child and forged corporate compliance disclosures," the man replied coldly, holding out a secure digital tablet for my signature.
I looked down at the tablet screen. The signature box for Rhodes Capital's sweeping acquisition was blinking softly.
From inside the house, I heard the faint, sleepy patter of little bare feet padding down the hallway.
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"Mommy?" Chloe's small, tired voice called out from the living room doorway. "Who's outside?"
I didn't look back at George as he stood paralyzed in the glare of the headlights. I took the stylus from the agent's hand, pressed the tip against the glass screen, and signed my name with absolute, unshakeable finality.
