Chapter 4 - Stripped Down
The humid evening air of Miami hit Julian and Brianna like a sodden blanket the moment they were escorted past the lobby turnstiles.
The front desk staff—men and women who had bowed and called Julian 'Mr. Vance' for years—kept their eyes fixed firmly on their computer monitors. Outside, the valet stand was unusually empty. Julian’s custom silver Aston Martin was parked near the curb, but before he could reach for his pocket, a man in coveralls stepped forward with a clipboard.
"Julian Vance?"
"Yes," Julian said, rushing forward. "Bring the car around. We need to leave."
"I'm not the valet, sir. I'm with Apex Repossessions. Your vehicle lease was guaranteed under Vance Maritime Corporate Fleet services. The authorization was revoked forty minutes ago."
Before Julian could scream, a flatbed tow truck reversed smoothly into the driveway, its hydraulic winch already whining as steel cables hooked onto the sports car's front axle.
Brianna let out a high, ragged sound that was half laugh, half sob. "Our car, Julian. They're taking the car."
"Wait!" Julian ran toward the tow truck driver, waving his wallet. "I can pay the monthly fee! How much is it? Five thousand? Ten thousand?"
The repo agent looked at him with genuine pity. "The account owes three months of back lease payments totaling forty-two thousand dollars, sir. Cashier's check or wire only, payable to the corporate leasing office. Step back from the vehicle, please."
With a jolt of metal, the Aston Martin was hoisted onto the flatbed. The driver climbed into the cab and pulled out into the evening traffic, leaving behind only the smell of burnt diesel and tire rubber.
Julian stood on the curb, his shirt half-unbuttoned, sweat soaking his collar. Brianna sat down on her solitary leather tote bag directly on the concrete sidewalk, burying her face in her manicured hands. Her orange dress looked garish under the yellow streetlamps.
"My phone," Julian muttered, frantically tapping at his banking app again. "My credit cards. I have the black card."
He tapped the screen. A bright red banner flashed across the interface: CARD RESTRICTED - CONTACT ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATOR.
"She canceled the secondary cards," Julian whispered, collapsing to his knees beside Brianna. "She canceled everything. I don't even have twenty dollars for a taxi."
Brianna slowly lifted her head. The romantic affection she had feigned for the past year was gone, replaced by a venomous, cold fury. "You lied to me."
"I didn't lie!" Julian shouted, passersby turning to stare at the disheveled couple on the sidewalk. "I thought everything was mine! I'm her only son!"
"You're a beggar," Brianna said, standing up and dusting off her knees. She slung her tote bag over her shoulder. "You're a useless, spoiled boy whose mother played him like a cheap violin. Do you have any idea what Marcus will do to me now? He bought that apartment just to remind me that I chose a clown over a king."
"Brianna, stay with me," Julian begged, grabbing the hem of her dress. "We'll go to the lawyers tomorrow. Arthur Vance’s will had clauses—there are testamentary trusts she can't dissolve without court approval! We just need a hotel for tonight!"
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Brianna reached into her bag, pulled out her personal phone, and dialed a number. "Hey, Chad? It’s Brianna. Are you still at the Soho Beach Club? Yeah... Julian and I had a falling out. Can you send an Uber for me?"
She didn't look back as she walked toward the corner, leaving Julian kneeling alone on the curb as the warm Miami rain began to fall.
