Chapter 2 - The Terminal Confrontation
Jack’s breath caught in his throat. He looked from Megan, to the blonde woman beside him, and then up at the glass walkway he had just been standing under.
"Megan..." Jack stammered, instinctively taking a step back from Vanessa, his hands raised in a guilty plea. "What are you doing here? I thought... I told you I was in surgery."
"You told me a lot of things, Jack," Megan said, stopping five feet away from the family group.
Vanessa looked confused, her eyes darting between them. "Jack, who is this? Is this the... the ex-wife you said was unstable?"
Ashley let out a sharp, nervous laugh, trying to play it off. "Megan, look, this is just a big misunderstanding. We were going to call you from Maui, we just didn't want to stress you out with your busy work schedule—"
"Shut up, Ashley," Megan said, her voice flat, cold, and entirely commanding. Ashley snapped her mouth shut, utterly shocked.
Megan turned her gaze to Carol, who was clutching her expensive leather handbag like a shield. "For ten years, Carol, I paid off your mortgage. I bought you that car. I paid for Ashley’s fertility treatments. I smoothed over every single mess this pathetic family made because I loved your son. And you quietly helped him plan a life with another woman using my family’s money."
"Your family's money?" Carol sneered, trying to regain her footing. "You're a freelance accountant, Megan! My son is a brilliant surgeon! He earned everything we have!"
"He didn't earn anything," a deep, authoritative voice boomed from behind Megan.
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Gerald, the Chief Legal Counsel for Sterling Holdings, stepped into the terminal, flanked by two private security officers. He handed a thick leather portfolio to Jack.
"Dr. Vance," Gerald said with practiced, corporate coldness. "The practice you operate in downtown Dallas sits on land owned by Sterling Holdings. The equipment you use was leased under Mrs. Vance’s trust. Within the next ten minutes, the locks on your clinic are being changed. The townhouse your mother lives in is being repossessed. And as for your vacation..." Gerald pointed a finger toward the boarding gate. "...your first-class tickets have just been canceled."
