CHAPTER 4 – THE LUNCH THAT TURNED INTO A PUBLIC HUMILIATION
CHAPTER 4 – THE LUNCH THAT TURNED INTO A PUBLIC HUMILIATION
Carbone Restaurant was still buzzing with its usual elite clientele.
Victoria Vance had ordered dessert.
Natalie was taking photos of the imported truffle pasta.
Arthur poured himself another glass of wine.
Only Dominic remained distracted.
His phone refused to stop vibrating.
Thirty-two missed calls.
Seven emails marked urgent.
Three board members demanding immediate meetings.
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"You've been staring at that phone for twenty minutes."
"I'm working."
"No."
She smiled smugly.
"You're letting Audrey ruin your mood."
Natalie laughed.
"I bet she's sitting at home crying."
Victoria nodded.
"Good."
"Maybe she'll finally learn who wears the pants in the family."
At that exact second...
The restaurant entrance became strangely quiet.
Several diners turned toward the front doors.
The maître d', who rarely left his podium, suddenly hurried forward himself.
Behind him walked six impeccably dressed men in tailored black suits.
Not security.
Executives.
They stopped beside Dominic's table.
The leader smiled politely.
"Mr. Dominic Vance?"
Dominic stood.
"Yes?"
"I'm Richard Hale."
He handed over a business card.
Dominic glanced down.
Chief Legal Officer
Brooks Global Corporation
His heartbeat skipped.
"What is this about?"
Richard's smile never changed.
"We've come regarding Brooks Global Asset BG-017."
Victoria frowned.
"What asset?"
"The black SUV currently parked outside."
Dominic stiffened.
"I told the woman on the phone—that car belongs to my wife."
Richard nodded.
"Correct."
"And Ms. Audrey Brooks is our principal beneficiary."
Silence.
Natalie blinked.
"Brooks?"
Richard calmly continued.
"Mr. Vance, the vehicle is company property."
"As of one hour ago, your authorization to operate it has been permanently revoked."
Victoria scoffed.
"This is ridiculous."
"My son is the CEO of a technology company."
Richard looked at her politely.
"And?"
She frowned.
"And he can afford his own car."
Richard smiled.
"Excellent."
"Then surrendering this one shouldn't be difficult."
Several nearby tables had begun watching openly.
Phones slowly appeared.
Someone whispered,
"Isn't that Dominic Vance?"
Another replied,
"The startup guy?"
Richard produced another envelope.
"There is also this."
Dominic opened it.
His face instantly drained of color.
It was a notice requiring him to repay every personal expense charged to the corporate vehicle over the last two years.
Fuel.
Maintenance.
Private trips.
Luxury parking.
Out-of-state vacations.
Everything.
Total Amount Due:
$486,742.13
Natalie gasped.
Victoria nearly screamed.
"Half a million dollars?"
Richard corrected gently.
"Four hundred eighty-six thousand."
Arthur stood abruptly.
"This has to be some mistake."
"No."
Richard slid another folder across the table.
"Every trip was GPS recorded."
"Every expense documented."
"Every signature verified."
Dominic's hands began shaking.
"You planned this."
Richard's expression remained composed.
"No, Mr. Vance."
"You planned it."
"You simply assumed no one was watching."
A low murmur spread through the restaurant.
Several guests now recognized the name Brooks.
One elderly businessman quietly whispered to his wife,
"Brooks Global..."
"They're untouchable."
Dominic looked around.
For the first time in years...
He realized every eye in the restaurant was on him.
Not with admiration.
Not with envy.
But with pity.
Then Richard delivered the final envelope.
"This comes directly from Miss Audrey Brooks."
Dominic ripped it open.
Inside was only one sheet of paper.
Seven words.
Don't contact me. Contact my attorney instead.
His vision blurred.
The wedding ring she had worn for two years fell out of the envelope, rolled across the white tablecloth, and stopped directly beside his untouched wine glass.
No note.
No explanation.
Just the ring.
For the first time since leaving Audrey at the hospital...
Dominic finally understood one terrifying truth.
His wife hadn't run home crying.
She had gone home to a family powerful enough to erase everything he had spent years building.
May you like
And this...
Was only the beginning.
