Rain poured heavily over the neon-lit downtown streets as Brandon’s black SUV pulled up in front of the luxury high-rise apartment building where Vanessa lived[cite: 1]. Two marked police cruisers were already parked near the entrance, their red and blue lights flashing against the wet pavement[cite: 1]. Richard stepped out of the front passenger seat, holding the legal folder tightly under his umbrella[cite: 1].
Richard: The officers are ready upstairs, Brandon[cite: 1]. We have the search warrant for her financial records[cite: 1].
Brandon: Let's finish this[cite: 1].
They took the private elevator directly to the top floor[cite: 1]. As the doors slid open, the sound of loud music and clinking glasses drifted down the hall from Vanessa's penthouse unit[cite: 1]. She was sitting on her leather sofa with her brother, drinking champagne and trying to figure out how to salvage her social standing after being thrown out of the mansion[cite: 1].
Vanessa: I'm telling you, Chad, we can still sue him for breach of contract[cite: 1]! He humiliated me in front of fifty corporate executives[cite: 1]!
Chad: You need to keep quiet, Vanessa[cite: 1]! If Brandon looks into the estate books, we are totally ruined[cite: 1]!
Vanessa: He's too busy playing savior to his staff to look at the books[cite: 1]—
The front door burst open as three police officers stepped into the foyer, followed closely by Brandon and Richard[cite: 1]. Vanessa jumped up from the sofa, dropping her champagne glass onto the expensive rug[cite: 1].
Vanessa: Brandon[cite: 1]! How dare you break into my home[cite: 1]!
Officer Vance: Police department, ma'am[cite: 1]. We have a warrant for your arrest[cite: 1].
Vanessa: Arrest[cite: 1]? On what possible grounds[cite: 1]?
Richard: Grand larceny, wire fraud, and embezzlement of corporate estate funds[cite: 1].
Chad: What[cite: 1]? Vanessa, what did you do[cite: 1]?
Officer Vance: Vanessa Miller, you have the right to remain silent[cite: 1]. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law[cite: 1].
Officer Vance stepped forward, pulling Vanessa’s arms behind her back and snapping heavy steel handcuffs onto her wrists[cite: 1].
Vanessa: Take your hands off me[cite: 1]! Brandon, tell them to stop[cite: 1]! This is a complete misunderstanding[cite: 1]!
Brandon: There is no misunderstanding, Vanessa[cite: 1]. We tracked every single offshore transfer you made over the last six months[cite: 1].
Vanessa: I was going to pay it back[cite: 1]! I just needed time for my investments to settle[cite: 1]!
Brandon: You stole from my company, you abused my staff, and you treated a defenseless six-year-old child like trash[cite: 1]. You are going to prison[cite: 1].
Chad: Officer, I didn't know anything about the stolen money, I swear[cite: 1]!
Richard: Save it for your lawyer, Mr. Miller[cite: 1]. Your name is listed as the primary beneficiary on the shell account[cite: 1]. Officers, take him in as well[cite: 1].
The second officer grabbed Chad by the collar, cuffing his hands as he began to scream at his sister in pure panic[cite: 1].
Chad: You ruined my life, Vanessa[cite: 1]! You said this was foolproof[cite: 1]!
Vanessa: Brandon, please[cite: 1]! Have mercy on me[cite: 1]! I loved you[cite: 1]!
Brandon: You loved my money[cite: 1]. And now you get to reflect on that in a state cell[cite: 1].
The officers pushed Vanessa and Chad out into the hallway as she screamed and cried, her glamorous golden dress now completely disheveled as the elevator doors closed on her forever[cite: 1].