Chapter 4 - The Desperation of the WatsonsFive minutes later, the heavy oak doors of the executive office swung open. Scott Watson strode in, but the arrogant, unyielding CEO from the night before was entirely gone. His tie was crooked, his hair was disheveled, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
Behind him stood Ashlyn, eyes red-rimmed from crying, wearing sunglasses indoors to hide her swollen face.
“Kaleb! Thank God,” Scott babbled, rushing toward the desk before stopping dead in his tracks as he noticed the older woman sitting calmly in the primary chair. He swallowed hard, recognizing the woman he had dismissed as a beggar less than twenty-four hours ago.
“Mr. Watson,” Kaleb’s mother said quietly. “You look distressed.”
“Look, let’s stop playing games,” Scott snapped, his panic bleeding through his bravado. He slammed a manila folder onto the desk. “Your son’s company signed binding letters of intent with my firm. If you pull out now, I will drag Cross Global through years of litigation that will cost you millions in regulatory inquiries!”
Kaleb leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “Litigation with what lawyers, Scott? Your corporate accounts were frozen by your primary creditors an hour ago. Your board of directors has already called an emergency vote to oust you for gross misconduct.”
Scott blanched, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “That... that’s impossible. We have reserves!”
“You had reserves until my mother’s legal team audited your shell companies in the Cayman Islands,” Kaleb corrected smoothly. “Turns out, siphoning funds from municipal infrastructure projects tends to catch up with you when someone with actual financial power decides to look at your books.”
Ashlyn stepped forward, ripping off her sunglasses, her face twisted in desperate rage.
“Kaleb, you can’t do this!” she screamed, pointing a shaking finger at him. “We were going to get married! I gave you years of my life! You’re destroying my family over an old lady playing dress-up in the dirt?!”
“She isn't just an old lady,” a new voice echoed from the doorway.
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Attorney Marcus Vance, senior partner of the nation’s most elite corporate law firm, stepped into the office holding a stack of federal indictments.
“She is Eleanor Cross, founder and principal share owner of Cross-Meridian Holdings,” Marcus announced clearly. “And as of five minutes ago, federal marshals have executed warrants for Scott and Kara Watson on charges of wire fraud, tax evasion, and corporate embezzlement.”
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