Chapter 6 - Stripped Bare
With Ryan locked away in county jail awaiting trial, Victoria Hayes and Marcus launched a legal blitzkrieg that dismantled Ryan’s life piece by piece.
First came the corporate board meeting of Vance & Sterling Wealth Management.
Emma walked into the glass-walled executive conference room on the 30th floor of Denver’s financial district. Her father’s former business partner, Arthur Sterling, sat at the head of the table surrounded by board members.
"Emma," Arthur said warmly, standing up to give her a gentle embrace. "We were horrified to hear what happened. How are you and baby Ethan holding up?"
"We're recovering, Arthur," Emma replied, sitting down. "And now, we are here to handle business."
Victoria Hayes laid out the legal documents. "Under Section 14 of the Founding Investment Charter drafted by Emma’s late father, any managing partner who incurs felony criminal charges involving moral turpitude automatically forfeits their executive voting rights and triggers an immediate buyout option by the primary trust."
Arthur looked at the criminal indictment papers, shaking his head. "Ryan was a fool. A arrogant, dangerous fool. The board has already met privately. We voted unanimously to terminate Ryan Vance's employment for cause to protect the firm's reputation. Effective immediately, his equity shares are seized and transferred to Emma as the primary beneficiary of the Vance Trust."
"What about his personal accounts?" Emma asked.
"Frozen," Victoria stated. "We have obtained an emergency freeze on all joint and personal assets to secure child support, spousal maintenance, and civil damages for battery and emotional distress."
Meanwhile, back in his jail cell, Ryan was visited by his defense attorney, Harrison.
"How soon am I getting out?" Ryan demanded, gripping the metallic mesh divider in the visitation room. "Did you post the bond? Did you talk to the board?"
Harrison looked down, taking a deep breath. "Ryan... you need to brace yourself."
"Brace myself for what?"
"The board fired you this morning. They invoked your father-in-law's old charter clause. Your equity shares were revoked. You no longer own a stake in Vance & Sterling."
Ryan’s eyes widened in sheer horror. "What?! That firm is fifty percent mine! I built those client lists!"
"Not anymore," Harrison continued relentlessly. "And because your personal accounts were frozen by the family court judge, your retainer check to my law firm bounced this morning. If you cannot secure alternative funds by Friday, I will be forced to withdraw as your legal counsel, and you will be appointed a public defender."
"A public defender?!" Ryan screamed, banging his forehead against the glass. "I drive a Porsche! I wear a fifteen-thousand-dollar watch!"
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"The Porsche was repossessed yesterday by the leasing company due to unpaid corporate guarantee fees," Harrison added flatly. "And the house on Maple Ridge Drive? It was registered under Emma's family trust before you married. She has already changed the locks and put all your clothes in trash bags on the curb."
Ryan sank into his metal stool, his body trembling violently. In less than seven days, he had gone from a wealthy, arrogant corporate executive drinking whiskey in Aspen to a broke, homeless inmate wearing an orange jumpsuit, abandoned by everyone he had ever known.
