Chapter 12
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The perp walk out of the cheap motel was deliberately designed by Sterling to completely shatter Julian’s fragile, arrogant ego. Local news vans, tipped off anonymously by someone in the DA's office, had already swarmed the parking lot. Bright camera flashes strobed rapidly in the afternoon sun as Julian was violently shoved out of the motel door by the federal agents.
"Mr. Vance! Care to comment on the stolen trust funds?" a reporter screamed, shoving a microphone aggressively toward Julian's face.
"Did your wife know about the mistresses, Julian?" another journalist shouted, completely ignoring the federal agents attempting to clear a path.
Julian kept his head bowed, his face burning with a profound, suffocating humiliation. For a man who had spent his entire life curating a public image of untouchable, elite superiority, being paraded in handcuffs outside a sleazy motel in a ruined suit was a fate worse than death.
He was pushed roughly into the back of the unmarked black sedan. The heavy doors slammed shut, instantly cutting off the chaotic screams of the press pool. Julian slumped against the stiff leather seats, the heavy steel handcuffs digging painfully into his wrists.
Sterling sat in the front passenger seat, turning around to look at his former friend through the metal security grate.
"You look terrible, Julian," Sterling observed dryly, adjusting his sharp tie.
"You set me up, Thomas," Julian spat, a sudden, desperate flare of his old anger breaking through the panic. "You tipped off the press! You wanted them to humiliate me!"
"I wanted the public to see exactly who you are," Sterling corrected sharply. "A pathetic, greedy coward who hides behind expensive suits and corporate lawyers. But your lawyers are gone, Julian. The firm officially fired the retainer firm representing you this morning. You are going to face a federal judge with a public defender."
"I'll fight this," Julian swore, leaning forward against the metal grate. "I'll demand a speedy trial. I will completely discredit Karen and that pathetic board of directors. I will destroy all of you."
Sterling actually laughed, a cold, dark sound that sent a terrifying shiver down Julian's spine.
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"You can certainly try, Julian," Sterling smiled. "But you should probably know that Beatrice signed a full proffer agreement this morning. She is going to testify to every single illegal wire transfer you ever ordered."
Julian fell back against the seat, the last shred of his arrogant defiance completely evaporating. He was entirely doomed.
