Chapter 6 - The Gathering Storm
Three weeks later, the civil litigation against Richard and Eleanor Parker had become front-page news in the local business journals.
PARKER GLOBAL HOLDINGS COLLAPSES UNDER EMBEZZLEMENT INVESTIGATION, read the headline of the financial daily. FOUNDER ACCUSED OF SIPHONING MILLIONS FROM FAMILY TRUST.
Inside the temporary offices of our new corporate holding entity—which I had legally named Elena’s Legacy Foundation—the atmosphere was brisk, focused, and free of the suffocating tension that had defined my family for decades.
Marcus Croft walked into my office carrying a thick leather-bound binder. “The preliminary deposition is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Your father’s legal counsel has tried every procedural delay in the book, but the judge has denied every single motion.”
I adjusted my glasses, looking over the financial summaries. “And Jason?”
“Jason is trying to cut a plea deal,” Marcus said, sitting down in the guest chair. “He’s claiming that Richard orchestrated the entire embezzlement scheme and that he was merely a subordinate employee. Unfortunately for Jason, our digital forensics team recovered email chains dating back four years where Jason explicitly requested funds from Elena’s trust to bail out his failing real estate ventures.”
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” I murmured, turning a page. “What about my mother?”
“Eleanor is holding onto the belief that her social standing will protect her,” Marcus sighed. “She’s been calling members of the city council, trying to lobby influence. But given that the state attorney general’s office has stepped in with criminal wire fraud charges, political influence isn't going to cut it this time.”
Just then, my office door swung open without a knock.
Standing in the doorway was Aunt Beatrice, looking exhausted, her hair slightly disheveled, completely unlike her usual impeccably groomed self.
“Clara,” she breathed, taking a step forward. “Thank God you’re here. Security downstairs wouldn't let me up, but I managed to slip in with a delivery courier.”
May you like
I motioned for Marcus to stay, then looked coldly at my aunt. “You shouldn't be here, Beatrice. There is a restraining order in place protecting my residence and my daughter.”
“I know, I know,” Beatrice pleaded, wringing her hands. “I’m not here to cause trouble, Clara. I’m ruined. Richard hid the fact that he used my retirement accounts as collateral for Parker Global’s emergency loans. If the court liquidates the estate completely, I’ll lose my home. I have nowhere to go.”
