Chapter 5 - The Eviction at NoonBy 12:00 PM, the news had spread through the resort like wildfire.
Guests lounging by the infinity pool whispered behind oversized sunglasses; waitstaff dropped trays in stunned disbelief; and high-ranking executives huddled in conference rooms, desperately trying to log into terminals that now flashed a permanent, unyielding error message.
In the grand lobby where Julian had stood triumphantly less than twenty-four hours ago, a small crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Julian stumbled down the marble staircase, wearing the same wrinkled suit from the night before, his hair unbrushed, his face pale and haggard. Behind him, dragging a large Louis Vuitton suitcase filled with designer clothes, was Chloe. Her face was twisted into an expression of pure, unadulterated venom.
"Don't touch me, Julian!" she hissed loudly as he tried to take her elbow in the lobby. "You lied to me! You told me you were a billionaire! You told me this entire empire was yours!"
"Chloe, shut up," Julian hissed back, his voice thick with humiliation as three hundred pairs of eyes locked onto them. "We can fix this—"
"Fix what?!" she shrieked, letting go of her suitcase handle so it crashed loudly against the marble floor. "You're a homeless fraud! I'm calling my lawyer!"
"Mr. Vance."
Julian turned around. Standing at the foot of the stairs was Arthur Pendelton, holding a sleek black briefcase. Two security guards—the exact same guards Julian had ordered to drag Elena out into the rain last night—stood behind Arthur, their expressions carved from stone.
"Your personal vehicle has been towed from the VIP bay," Arthur announced calmly, loud enough for the entire lobby to hear. "Your corporate credit cards have been permanently deactivated. Any attempt to access resort facilities from this moment forward will be prosecuted as trespassing."
Julian’s chest heaved. Humiliation burned through his veins like acid. He looked around the lobby, searching for a single friendly face, a single person who remembered how he had ruled this place yesterday. But every head turned away. Every employee looked down at their clipboards.
"Where is she?" Julian muttered, his voice trembling with rage. "Where is Elena?!"
Arthur didn't flinch. He simply reached into his briefcase and pulled out a single sheet of heavy cream-colored cardstock, handing it to Julian.
Julian snatched it from his hand and looked down.
It was an invitation, printed in elegant silver calligraphy:
You are cordially invited to the extraordinary shareholder assembly and corporate restructuring gala of Escalante Global Holdings.
Keynote Speaker: Mrs. Elena Escalante, Chairperson and Sole Principal Owner.
Time: Tonight, 8:00 PM.
Location: The Grand Imperial Ballroom, Azure Bay Resort.
May you like
Julian stared at the card, his knees turning to water. The grand imperial ballroom—the crown jewel of the resort, the room where he had planned to host his acquisition celebration with investors tonight—was now hosting his execution, hosted by the wife he had thrown out into the storm.
"She's waiting for you, Mr. Vance," Arthur said quietly, turning on his heel. "Make sure you dress appropriately. Dress code is strictly enforced."
