Chapter 5
Chapter 5:
The VIP lounge inside UBS was dead silent, save for the soft hum of the climate control system. The walls were paneled in dark mahogany, and the leather sofas carried the quiet scent of pure luxury. Vera sat rigidly on the edge of her seat, glancing around with barely concealed unease. She leaned in and whispered, “June, are you sure we’re in the right place? They’re going to kick us out p>
June did not answer. She took a slow sip of her sparkling water, her posture perfectly at ease.
The heavy oak door swung open. A man in a bespoke three-piece suit hurried into the room, slightly out of breath, a faint sheen of perspiration on his forehead.
Mr. Sterling, the senior wealth manager, came to a stop and bowed deeply.
“Miss Erickson,” Sterling said, his voice carrying a tremor of genuine deference. “I apologize for the wait. We have been hoping for your return ever since you froze your accounts four years ago p>
Vera’s jaw dropped. “Four — four years ago p>
June set her water glass on the table. “Initiate the unfreezing protocol, Sterling p>
𝗥еa𝘥 𝘧𝗿𝗈m у𝗈𝗎𝘳 𝗉𝘩оnе 𝗈ո
“Right away, ma’am.” Sterling placed a sleek silver briefcase on the table and opened it, revealing a retinal scanner and a biometric fingerprint pad. He lowered his voice. “The sovereign offshore jurisdiction and multilayered cryptographic security you established have kept the account completely dormant and invisible, precisely as you instructed p>
June leaned forward. A red laser swept across her eye, and she pressed her thumb against the glass pad.
The machine emitted a sharp beep. A green light flashed.
Sterling turned his tablet around and slid it across the polished table toward June. “Your current asset overview, Miss Erickson p>
June glanced at the screen. Her expression did not change. She pushed the tablet toward Vera.
Vera leaned over and began counting the digits. “Units, tens, hundreds — thousands — millions —” She choked on her own breath.
The balance read one hundred and twenty-eight million.
“One hundred and twenty-eight million?!” Vera shrieked, lurching up from the sofa. “Did you rob the Federal Reserve p>
June calmly crossed her legs. “That is the global licensing dividend for the Neuro-X patent accumulated over the last four years p>
Vera’s knees gave out and she dropped back onto the sofa. “The nerve-blocker drug? You invented that p>
June nodded. “When I married Cole, I buried my name. I gave up the lab. I gave up everything to be the perfect wife. But I’m back now p>
Sterling cleared his throat respectfully. “How would you like to proceed, Miss Erickson p>
“Transfer fifty million into my checking account immediately,” June said, her voice crisp and unhesitating. “And issue me a Centurion card p>
“Consider it done,” Sterling replied, tapping rapidly on his tablet. “Also, regarding the Compton family trust allowance p>
June let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Sever the connection. And bring me a pair of scissors p>
Sterling blinked, then reached into his desk drawer and produced a pair of silver shears.
June opened her purse and withdrew the gold credit card bearing the name June Compton. With one swift, decisive motion, she cut it in half. The plastic snapped loudly in the quiet room.
She felt a physical weight lift from her chest. The collar around her neck was finally gone.
“Mail the pieces to Cole’s office,” she said, setting the broken card on the table.
Half an hour later, June walked out of the bank holding a solid titanium black card.
Vera walked beside her, studying June as though seeing a stranger. “You’re worth over a hundred million dollars — and you let him treat you like garbage for four years p>
A shadow passed across June’s eyes. “Because I thought it was love. Love makes you blind, Vera. And it makes you foolish p>
Across the city, in the penthouse office of the Compton Empire, Cole was seated behind his massive glass desk when his phone buzzed with an automated message from the bank.
He picked it up. Alert: The supplementary card ending in 4092 has been canceled by the cardholder.
Cole frowned and adjusted his platinum watch — a habit when something annoyed him. He scoffed and tossed the phone back onto the desk.
“Playing hard to get,” he muttered. He thought of Alycia’s words from the phone call: She’s just being dramatic. The doctors said it was minor. “She thinks cutting off her own allowance will make me chase her p>
He pressed the intercom button. “Sarah, cut the maintenance fees for June’s phone and car. Let’s see how long she lasts before she comes crawling back p>
Back on Wall Street, June slipped the black card into her purse. She turned to Vera, the cold wind lifting her hair around her face.
“Come on,” June said. “Let’s go buy a house. I need a new headquarters p>