Chapter 4 - The House of Cards ShakesThe digital clock on Daniel’s wall clicked to 12:00 AM.
Instantly, his laptop screen flashed bright red. The corporate portal dissolved into a stark, black-and-white screen bearing the logo of Sterling Legacy LLC.
ACCESS DENIED.
This terminal has been locked by order of the Managing Member. All administrative privileges for Daniel J. Vance have been permanently revoked.
"No, no, no!" Daniel screamed, frantically tapping his fingers against the keyboard, trying to bypass the security wall. But the system had been built by programmers his mother had hired long before he even knew what a server was.
His cell phone began to ring. It was his Chief Financial Officer, Marcus Finch.
"Daniel! What the hell is going on?" Marcus shouted, panic vibrating through the speaker. "The main treasury account just cleared out! Sixty-two million dollars in operational cash has been moved to an escrow account at First National! The payroll system is locked! We can't pay the developers tomorrow!"
"Marcus, listen to me," Daniel stammered, his face pale, sweat breaking out along his hairline. "It’s a glitch. My mother’s lawyers are trying to play some kind of sick joke. I’ll resolve it. Do not panic."
"I am panicking, Daniel! The board just received an automated notice of an emergency meeting scheduled for 9:00 AM tomorrow. And the sender isn't you. It’s Katherine Vance!"
Daniel dropped the phone onto his desk.
Upstairs in the luxury suite of St. Jude's, Vanessa’s phone began to ring. It was the head of the hospital’s financial administration.
May you like
"Mrs. Vance," the administrator said, her voice polite but unyielding. "We regret to inform you that your reservation for the royal maternity suite has been cancelled due to non-payment. Your belongings are being moved to a standard double-occupancy room on the third floor. Please vacate the suite within thirty minutes, or security will assist you."
Vanessa screamed, throwing her phone against the wall. "Daniel! Get up here right now! Your mother is doing something! She’s trying to kill us!"
