Chapter 5 - The Vanguard of the Docks
The doors of the black utility vans flew open, and out stepped twenty men dressed in heavy canvas jackets and work boots—the union dockworkers of the Providence waterfront. These weren't corporate security guards; these were the men who built the city, men whose loyalty Daniel Carver had earned through decades of fair wages, protection, and respect.
At the front of the group stood a tall, rugged man with a thick beard. He looked at Claire's private security with pure contempt.
"Miss Whitlock," the bearded man said, pulling a heavy iron crowbar from his belt. "I think you and your corporate boys took a wrong turn. This is Carver territory. And the unions don't take orders from a shipping company that defaults on its pension funds."
Claire stumbled backward, her high heels catching on the gravel. "What... what is this? My father controls the shipping manifests!"
"Not anymore, Claire," Daniel said, walking slowly down the stone steps. He pulled a pristine, legal document from his pocket and held it up. "An hour ago, the Federal Maritime Commission received a comprehensive filing regarding the ghost accounts inside Whitlock Shipping. Your father’s assets have been frozen under a pending corporate fraud and grand larceny investigation. Your shipping lines are grounded. Your private guards are currently working for a bankrupt company."
The six private security guards looked at each other, their expressions turning anxious. The lead guard slowly lowered his weapon, stepping away from Claire. "Look, lady, we’re not getting into a union war for a bounced paycheck. We're out."
Within seconds, the guards climbed back into their SUVs, threw the vehicles into reverse, and tore down the driveway, leaving Claire standing completely alone on the gravel, her designer world collapsing around her feet.
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"Daniel... please," Claire stammered, her voice suddenly shrinking into a pathetic whimper as she looked at the circle of angry dockworkers closing in around her. "We can talk about this. My father can fix the accounts. We can still get married."
"Marcus," Daniel called out, not even looking at her. "Escort Miss Whitlock to the city limits. And ensure she understands that if she ever sets foot in Providence again, she won't be leaving in a sports car."
