Chapter 6 - The Fall of Kensington Global|
At seven o'clock the following morning, the sun broke over Chicago, casting a cold, pale light across the financial district.
Inside the penthouse suite of the Kensington Estate on the North Shore, total chaos reigned.
Richard Kensington sat behind his mahogany desk, his face gray, his silk tie undone, staring at three television monitors mounted on his office wall.
"Breaking news out of Chicago," a news anchor announced. "Kensington Global Shipping has suffered a catastrophic financial collapse overnight. Major European banks have frozen the firm's assets, while the Port Authority has revoked their terminal access citing severe regulatory breaches."
Richard buried his face in his hands, groaning in sheer agony.
The heavy doors of his study burst open.
Chloe stepped into the room, her hair messy, still wearing the ruined crimson Valentino dress from the night before, her eyes red and swollen from crying all night.
"Dad!" Chloe panicked, rushing toward the desk. "What is happening?! The bank just declined my credit cards! The valet at the club wouldn't even give me my Porsche back!"
Richard slowly raised his head. The look of pure, venomous rage in his eyes made Chloe stop dead in her tracks.
"You idiot," Richard rasped out, his voice shaking with violent fury.
"Dad?"
"You struck Matthew Castille's wife!" Richard screamed, slamming his palms onto the desk as he stood up. "You struck a pregnant woman in front of thirty witnesses in his own club! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
"I didn't know!" Chloe shrieked, backing away. "She was dressed as a waitress! She had a cheap name tag that said Sarah! How was I supposed to know she was married to a billionaire?!"
"It doesn't matter what you knew!" Richard roared, tears of utter ruin spilling down his cheeks. "The Castille Syndicate has pulled every loan! Our creditors are filing for immediate bankruptcy! The federal prosecutors have just launched an investigation into our dock records!"
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He collapsed back into his chair, staring at his daughter with hollow, empty eyes.
"We are ruined, Chloe," Richard whispered. "We have nothing left. And by noon today, the marshals will seize this house."
