Chapter 36 - The Invitation to Manhattan
Two days later, a formal, elegantly embossed invitation was delivered to Victoria Sterling’s lavish executive penthouse overlooking Central Park in Manhattan. It wasn't an ordinary invitation; it was a subpoena-style summons issued under a historic Marrow Hill municipal restitution act, commanding Victoria to appear before an open civic tribunal in Marrow Hill to address historical property fraud and familial complicity in the 2004 district fire.
Victoria sat in her luxurious study, staring at the embossed crest in sheer disbelief. She crumpled the heavy paper in her fist and tossed it into the fireplace. "Ridiculous provincial nonsense," she muttered furiously to her lead legal counsel over the phone. "Ignore it. That little country seamstress has delusions of grandeur."
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"Miss Sterling," her lawyer warned gravely on the other end of the line. "You cannot simply ignore a municipal restitution summons backed by the state attorney general and federal maritime oversight. If you don't appear voluntarily, a federal bench warrant will be issued for your arrest."
Panicked and furious, Victoria realized she had no choice. If she wanted to protect her global fashion empire from public destruction, she would have to travel to Marrow Hill and crush the seamstress on her own turf once and for all.
