Chapter 23 - The Desperate Call
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Before I could fully digest Julian's words, the loud ring of my smartphone shattered the quiet atmosphere of the penthouse.
I looked down at the illuminated screen resting on the sofa armrest.
Caller ID: Daniel Mercer.
I looked at Julian. He simply nodded, making a quiet gesture with his hand for me to answer.
I picked up the phone and swiped the green button, putting the call on speakerphone so Julian could hear every word.
"Emma!" Daniel’s voice burst through the speaker, breathless, frantic, and trembling with unfiltered panic. "Emma, please don't hang up! You have to listen to me!"
"I'm listening, Daniel," I said, my voice as cold as ice. "Why are you calling me at nine o'clock on a Sunday night?"
"The bank... the offshore system just sent me an automated alert!" Daniel stammered, background noise roaring through his line—it sounded like he was driving fast in a rainstorm. "Someone accessed the Cayman primary master file! Did you do that?! Did your lawyer file a subpoena?!"
"Why do you care about an offshore account, Daniel?" I asked quietly. "You told the divorce judge under oath that you had zero financial assets left to your name."
"Emma, you don't understand!" Daniel sobbed, his voice cracking violently. "I took out a secondary private loan from some very bad people six months ago! I used that $2.4 million Cayman trust as collateral! I promised them I would have the master authorization signed by the end of this month!"
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I felt a cold wave of disgust wash over me. "You put up a trust you didn't even own as collateral for a illegal loan?"
"I thought I could force you to sign the power of attorney!" Daniel screamed desperate through the phone. "Mom and I had it all planned! If you don't unlock that account tonight, those lenders are going to destroy me! Please, Emma! You loved me once! Just sign the release!"
