Chapter 3 - The Midnight Knock
The party at the estate was ending. The jazz trio had packed their gear, and the guests were beginning to drift toward their cars, buzzing with praise for the "magnificent" Gavin Harrell.
Gavin stood on the terrace, a drink in hand, looking out over the river. He felt like a king. He checked his phone, expecting a text from Stella apologizing for leaving. He found none.
Suddenly, his phone rang. It was his accountant, but the voice on the other end was frantic.
"Gavin? What the hell is going on? The bank just froze the regional sales account. And I’ve got a process server here at the office demanding payment on a $300,000 note. They say it’s been assigned to a third-party collection agency, and they’re filing for a levy on your personal assets."
Gavin’s blood turned to ice. "That's impossible! That was supposed to be a friendly family loan! Tell them to hold off!"
"It gets worse," the accountant stammered. "The catering company just arrived with the police. They claim the contract was breached the second the clock hit midnight without payment. They’re threatening to seize the equipment—and since you personally guaranteed it, they’re going after your accounts."
Before Gavin could answer, he heard a commotion at the front gates. The sweeping circular driveway, meant for luxury SUVs, was suddenly blocked by a flatbed truck and two unmarked cars.
Meredith walked out onto the terrace, her cream suit looking pristine, her expression one of utter confusion. "Gavin, what is all this noise? Who are these people?"
A man in a sharp suit walked up the stone steps, ignoring the security, and held out a thick stack of papers.
"Gavin Harrell?" the man asked.
"Yes?" Gavin whispered, the "king of the manor" facade crumbling into a heap of terrified desperation.
May you like
"You’ve been served," the man said, handing him the documents. "Judgment liens, breach of contract summons, and notice of default on the property lease. You have until 8:00 AM tomorrow to vacate the premises. The owners—represented by Summit Development Alliance—have reclaimed possession."
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