You Want My Grandma’s $8 BILLION Inheritance DREAM ON! SCUMBAG, Watch Your Empire COLLAPSE Overnight! Chapter 18
Another week passed.
After trading resumed, Langford Properties’ stock kept falling.
Between the nine percent stake I dumped and the panic selling that followed, the stock plunged another twenty-three percent in just three days from its pre-suspension price.
The value of Alex’s personal holdings shrank from five billion dollars to less than one and a half billion.
And even that wasn’t really his.
A large portion of those shares had already been pledged as collateral to the bank.
If the stock dropped much further, the bank would trigger a margin call and liquidate his position.
When that happened…
He wouldn’t even have that remaining $1.5 billion.
Meanwhile, at the request of the District Attorney’s Office, the court issued an asset freeze order.
All three of Alex’s bank accounts were frozen.
His real estate holdings and vehicles could no longer be sold, transferred, or used as collateral.
His private attorney, Mendell, resigned.
Rumor had it Alex could no longer afford his legal fees.
—
When Julian called to update me, there was a trace of sympathy in his voice.
“I don’t think he can even find a lawyer willing to take his case anymore.”
“He’ll find one,” I said calmly.
“The court will appoint a public defender.”
There was a brief pause.
“Ms. Grant… there’s something else.”
“What is it?”
“Sophia came to my law office today.”
“She came to see you?”
“She wants to become a cooperating witness.”
“She’s willing to testify that Diane orchestrated the drugging scheme, and reveal everything about her fake marriage to Alex.”
“In exchange…”
“She wants the prosecution to recommend a lighter sentence.”
I thought for a moment.
“How much does she know?”
“According to her statement…”
“Everything.”
—
“From preparing the drugs… to delivering the tonic… to arranging the fake marriage certificate…”
“…to the birth of the twins and how they were raised.”
“She was involved every step of the way.”
“If she’s willing to testify in court, it’ll significantly strengthen the prosecution’s case.”
“Let her testify.”
Julian hesitated.
“You don’t hate her?”
“I do.”
My answer was immediate.
“But hatred is one thing.”
“Using her is another.”
“If her testimony can add a few more years to Diane’s sentence…”
“I’ll gladly take it.”
“I understand.”
After we hung up, I texted Rachel.
[Sophia’s turning state’s witness.]
Rachel replied almost instantly.
[What a snake. She was threatening you not that long ago.]
—
I answered:
[When prison’s staring someone in the face, loyalty becomes thinner than paper.]
Rachel sent me a thumbs-up emoji.
A moment later, another message popped up.
[By the way, I uncovered something else. Three years ago, when Alex won the New York waterfront redevelopment project, he didn’t just fake the contractor’s license.]
[He also paid a $1.5 million bribe to a member of the City Planning Commission who oversaw the approval process. I’ve got the wire transfer records.]
I stared at the message for several seconds.
Bribery.
This wasn’t a civil matter anymore.
It was another felony.
Multiple felony counts.
I replied:
[Don’t release it yet.]
[Wait until after the first trial. If they still decide to appeal… then we drop this.]
Rachel answered almost immediately.
—
[You’re ruthless.]
I didn’t respond.
It wasn’t that I was ruthless.
They were the ones who had taught me how to be.