Chapter 1 - The Main Course
I lowered my water glass and watched Brenda's smug smile falter for just a fraction of a second.
She quickly recovered and adjusted her diamond necklace with perfectly manicured fingers.
She still believed the night belonged to her.
Connor chuckled and shook his head as if I were a petulant child throwing a tantrum.
He ordered me to sit down and stop making a scene in front of his important guests.
I remained standing.
The heavy oak doors of the private dining room suddenly swung open.
Two men in dark suits walked in, completely ignoring the restaurant manager who was frantically trying to stop them.
Brenda stood up indignantly.
She demanded to know who they were and why they were interrupting her expensive birthday dinner.
The taller man reached into his jacket and pulled out a thick stack of legal documents.
He looked directly at my husband.
He asked if he was Connor Sterling, the CEO of Apex Solutions.
Connor puffed out his chest and confidently said yes.
The man slammed the papers onto the table right into Brenda's half-eaten lobster risotto.
He announced that Connor was being served with a federal injunction for corporate fraud and asset theft.
Connor's face went completely pale.
The business associates at the table began whispering frantically among themselves.
Brenda shrieked that this was a mistake and threatened to sue the men for defamation.
I looked at Connor and smiled.
I told him I hoped he liked my contribution to the celebration.
Connor lunged across the table toward me with his eyes filled with pure rage.
Before he could reach me, the second man in the suit unclipped a gold badge from his belt.
He announced that he was Detective Miller with the State Financial Crimes Unit.
He told Connor to put his hands behind his back.
The entire room erupted into absolute chaos as the investors scrambled to distance themselves.
I felt a wave of absolute triumph wash over me.
But then Detective Miller turned his cold gaze away from Connor.
He looked straight at me.
May you like
He pulled out a second pair of heavy steel handcuffs.
He told me I was also under arrest as the primary mastermind behind the embezzlement scheme.
