Chapter 27 - The Phantom Lawsuit
Within seventy-two hours of Alistair Vance’s visit, the legal onslaught began. Unlike Julian Cross’s crude attempts at arson, Vanguard Global deployed a sophisticated web of international intellectual property lawsuits. They claimed that the signature silver-thread embroidery pattern used in Ashby & Co.’s autumn collection infringed upon a defunct patent registered by a shell company in Milan back in 1998.
Elena burst into Karen’s private office, holding a stack of legal notices that felt heavy enough to anchor a ship. "Karen, look at this! They’ve filed emergency injunctions in three federal districts simultaneously! Our inventory is being flagged at customs, and our European distributor in Paris is threatening to pull out of our contract!"
Karen sat calmly at her desk, her posture rigid, her hands folded neatly over her sketchbook. She didn't look panicked; her mind was already dissecting the legal mechanics of the attack. "Vanguard is trying to bleed us dry through legal fees before we even reach the courtroom. They want to force a liquidity crisis."
"What do we do?" Elena asked, her voice tight with anxiety. "We don't have millions of dollars to fight multinational corporate lawyers in three different states!"
"We don't need millions," Karen said quietly, standing up and grabbing her secure satellite phone. "We need leverage."
She dialed Ambrose Calvano’s direct line. The phone picked up on the first ring.
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"Ambrose," Karen said without preamble. "Vanguard Global just filed a flurry of phantom intellectual property lawsuits through a Milan shell company. I need to know who owns that shell company."
"Alistair Vance thinks he’s playing chess on a global board," Ambrose’s gravelly voice echoed through the speaker, laced with quiet amusement. "Give me four hours, Karen. I’ll find out which Swiss bank account is funding Vanguard’s legal proxy, and we’ll show Mr. Vance how we handle corporate extortion in Marrow Hill."
