Chapter 3 - The Illusion of Royalty
Meanwhile, at Le Petit Oiseau, a three-Michelin-star restaurant in the heart of the culinary district, Jasper Vance raised a glass of vintage champagne. The table was covered in empty plates of caviar and expensive truffles. Sitting across from him were his mother, Gillian, and his sister, Priscilla, both dripping in jewelry that Jasper had bought them using his company’s projected credit line.
"To the future," Jasper toasted, his face flushed with wine and arrogance. "By Friday, the Robertson Global-backed venture funds will sign the papers. Thirty million dollars in direct injection. Vance Nexus will be valued at nine figures."
"Oh, Jasper, I always knew you were destined for greatness," Gillian preened, adjusting her faux-fur shawl. "It’s a good thing you didn't bring Hailey. She would have ruined the atmosphere. Honestly, crying about a little stomach pain? Women in our family give birth and go back to work the next day. She’s so soft. Her father is just a retired builder, after all. She doesn't understand high society."
Priscilla giggled, snapping a photo of her designer handbag next to the champagne bucket. "And she actually thought she was going to ride in the SUV today! The nerve. Investors see who is driving that car, Jasper. It gives the company prestige. She can take the bus; it suits her background."
Jasper smiled, though a tiny flicker of unease crossed his mind. He remembered the look in Hailey’s eyes when he handed her the bus fare. It wasn't the look of a defeated woman; it was a look of absolute, chilling vacancy. But he quickly dismissed the thought. Hailey was compliant. She loved him. She would be at home, having heated up the lasagna from three days ago, waiting to serve him when he returned.
"Let’s stop talking about her," Jasper said, waving his hand dismissively. "Let’s go back to our apartment. Mother, you and Priscilla can take the master bedroom. Hailey can sleep on the sofa with the baby; she needs to be up every two hours to feed him anyway, so there’s no point in her ruining our sleep."
"Spoken like a true man of the house," Gillian beamed.
An hour later, the luxury SUV pulled up to the high-rise apartment complex. Jasper confidently swiped his key fob at the elevator, humming a tune. They walked down the corridor to penthouse apartment 4B.
Jasper unlocked the door and pushed it open, expecting the smell of home-cooked food or the sound of a crying baby. Instead, the apartment was completely dark. And freezing cold.
"Hailey?" Jasper called out, frowning. "Hailey, get the lights. We’re home."
Silence.
Gillian walked in, sniffing the air. "Why is it so cold in here? Did she leave the windows open?"
Jasper flicked the light switch. The living room was empty. He walked into the kitchen. The refrigerator was open, completely cleared out. He hurried down the hallway to the master bedroom.
The closets were wide open. All of Hailey’s clothes were gone. Not a single shoe, dress, or coat remained. More alarming was the nursery. The crib, the clothes, the diapers, the expensive stroller—everything was gone. It looked as though no one had ever lived there.
"What is the meaning of this?" Gillian demanded, walking into the empty nursery. "Did she throw a tantrum and go to a hotel? How childish!"
Jasper’s phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket. It was an email notification from the property management company. His eyes scanned the text, his face draining of color.
Dear Mr. Vance, This is to inform you that the lease for Penthouse 4B has been terminated effective immediately by the primary guarantor, Robertson Holdings. Security teams have already vacated the premises. You have 24 hours to remove your personal belongings before the locks are changed.
"What?" Jasper gasped. "Robertson Holdings? Who the hell is that?"
Before he could process the email, his phone rang. The caller ID showed the name of his chief financial officer, David. Jasper answered quickly. "David? What’s going on? I’m a bit busy—"
"Jasper, we have a catastrophic emergency," David yelled over the phone, his voice laced with pure panic. "The lead investors for our Series B funding... they just pulled out. All of them. Simultaneously."
"What?! That’s impossible! The contracts are supposed to be signed on Friday! They promised!"
"It gets worse," David stuttered. "They didn't just pull out. They’re calling in our short-term bridge loans. Jasper, they’re demanding repayment of the five million dollars we borrowed to scale up production last month. They want it by 9:00 AM tomorrow. If we don't pay, they’re filing for involuntary bankruptcy of Vance Nexus."
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Jasper dropped to his knees on the hardwood floor of the empty nursery. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. "Who... who pulled the funds, David?"
"The parent company," David whispered. "The ultimate beneficial owner of all three venture capital firms. It’s Robertson Global Corp. Jasper... what did you do?"
