TOTAL OUTSTANDING BALANCE DUE IMMEDIATELY: $284,500.00
"Two hundred and eighty-four thousand dollars?!" Beatrice shrieked from across the table, covering her mouth with both hands.
"This is a mistake! Call the manager!" Victoria yelled, her emerald silk blouse rustling as she pushed herself up from the booth. "Call the bank! My credit cards can cover this!"
"We tried your personal Platinum card, Mrs. Sterling," the waiter said smoothly, holding up three separate transaction decline receipts. "All personal lines associated with the Sterling household were frozen ten minutes ago by order of the primary trustee."
Act III: The Public Fall
Chapter 5: The Glass House Collapses
The dining room fell into a stunned silence. Surrounding guests—including several board members from Sterling Global Energy—turned in their chairs, whispering behind their linen napkins as they watched the matriarch of the Sterling family unravel.
"Julian!" Victoria gasped, clutching her son's arm with trembling fingers. "Pay it! Use your executive account!"
Julian pulled out his leather wallet with shaking hands, sliding his personal corporate card through the waiter's handheld terminal.