The Supreme Son in Law

Chapter 4

Ethan looked out into the rainy street. His eyes were cold.

"Cut the line," Ethan said.

"All of it?" Dominic asked.

"Every dollar," Ethan said. "Freeze their business accounts. Call in every short-term loan they owe the bank. Tell Donald Mercer he must pay the thirty-five million dollars in cash by nine tomorrow morning."

Dominic made a note on his screen. "Understood. What about Miss Clara?"

"Prepare a medical development project," Ethan said. "Sixty million dollars from Sovereign Apex. Send the offer to the Sterling villa at seven in the morning. Put a rule in bold print: Clara is the only person who can sign it. If anyone tries to remove her, the Sterling family must pay a one-hundred-million-dollar penalty."

Dominic nodded. "It will be ready before sunrise."

Dominic Cross reached inside his suit coat. He pulled out a heavy black card with a gold dragon stamped into the corner and handed it to Ethan.

"The accounts are unlocked, Master Vance," Dominic said. "Ten billion dollars in liquid cash. Every asset of the Vance family in this province is back in your hands."

Ethan took the card and put it into his pocket.

"Drop me off two blocks from the apartment," Ethan said. "Clara should be waiting."

——

Ten blocks away, loud music shook the VIP room of Club Onyx.

Julian Mercer sat on a black leather couch. His right shoe was off, and an ice pack rested on his swollen, purple ankle. Every small movement sent a sharp pain up his leg.

Derek Sterling sat across from him, grinning as he poured two glasses of whiskey.

"Do not worry about tonight, Julian," Derek said, pushing a glass across the table. "Clara has no way out. Tomorrow morning at eight, I take the keys to her lab. By nine, the bank takes her house. By noon, she will come crawling to your door."

Julian took a slow drink. His face was dark.

"What about the beggar?" Julian asked coldly.

Derek laughed. "I already spoke to three men down by the docks. Tomorrow afternoon, they will grab Ethan in the alley. They will break both his arms and dump him in the river."

Julian sneered. "Good. Make sure Clara sees it."

Before Derek could speak again, Julian's phone buzzed loudly against the glass table.

The caller ID flashed: DAD.

Julian answered with a smirk. "Dad? I'm at the club with Derek. We're celebrating—"

"Where the hell are you?!"

Donald Mercer's scream was so loud that Derek heard it from across the table. Donald was gasping for air, choking on his own words.

Julian sat up straight. "Dad? What is wrong?"

"The bank!" his father shouted into the phone. "Riverdale Municipal Bank just froze every single business account we have! All of them!"

Julian went cold. "Frozen? That makes no sense. We have thirty million in open credit with them."

"It's gone!" his father yelled, slamming his fist onto a desk. "They canceled our credit line ten minutes ago! The payroll checks for our construction workers just bounced! There is a riot at the gate!"

Julian stood up on one foot, his hands shaking. "Dad, call Director Harris! We paid him half a million last month! He will fix it!"

"Harris did not do this!" Donald screamed in complete hysterics. "A giant conglomerate bought the bank tonight! Sovereign Apex! The new owners canceled our loans! They want thirty-five million dollars in cash by nine tomorrow morning!"

Julian felt the room spin. "Thirty-five million? Cash? Dad, we do not have that kind of money! Everything we have is tied up in the North Bay land!"

"If we do not pay by nine, they seize our land, our machines, and our building!" his father wept. "We will be bankrupt before lunch! Did you offend anyone, Julian?! What did you do—"

The call ended.

Julian stood frozen in the middle of the room.

The ice pack slipped from his fingers and hit the carpet with a wet thud.

Across the table, Derek stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.

"Julian?" Derek whispered, his voice trembling. "What did your dad say? What about Clara?"

Julian snapped. He grabbed the heavy whiskey bottle from the table and smashed it against the wall.

Glass and alcohol exploded across the wallpaper.

"Shut your mouth about Clara!" Julian screamed, his face red with pure terror. "Get out of my way!"

Julian did not even put his shoe back on. He grabbed his jacket, shoved Derek aside, and limped out the door as fast as he could.

Derek stood alone in the VIP room.

The loud music kept playing, but Derek’s hands were shaking so hard he spilled his drink on the floor.

The powerful backer he had bragged about all night had just run out the door, terrified for his life.