Chapter 3 - The House of Cards Trembles
"Your Honor, this is an ambush," Paige Ellison hissed from the defense table, forgetting the judge's earlier warning.
Judge Calder slammed his gavel down with a resounding crack that made Paige jump in her seat.
"Bailiff, remove Ms. Ellison from this courtroom immediately," the judge commanded.
"No, wait! Your Honor, she’s our corporate communications director!" Adrian pleaded, jumping to his feet.
"She is an unauthorized third party disrupting a closed custody and preliminary asset hearing," Judge Calder said without hesitation.
Two armed deputies stepped forward, escorting a mortified Paige out past the whispering gallery.
Her heels clicked rapidly on the marble floor until the heavy wooden doors swung shut behind her.
Adrian stood alone with his three attorneys, looking small and exposed.
Judge Calder turned his attention back to me.
"Mrs. Lane, why did you wait until today's hearing to present these records?"
I stood up, speaking in a steady, measured voice that reached every corner of the room.
"Because for the past six months, Mr. Hollis has used corporate assets, private security, and smear campaigns to terrorize our children and me."
"That’s a lie!" Adrian shouted, but his voice cracked.
"He locked me out of our primary residence using company security guards," I continued, unbothered by his outburst.
"He cut off the household operational accounts."
"He informed our eight-year-old sons that I had abandoned them and that they would have to call another woman their mother."
"He believed his wealth gave him the authority to erase my existence."
"I brought these records today because the prenuptial agreement Mr. Hollis demands to enforce is about to be enforced to the absolute letter."
Russell Crane looked down at his binder, frantically flipping pages as if searching for an escape hatch that did not exist.
"Mrs. Lane," Judge Calder asked, "what is your petition regarding current corporate governance and immediate custody?"
"First, Your Honor, as majority shareholder of Lane Logistics Capital Trust, I am exercising my legal right to suspend Adrian Hollis from all executive duties at Hollis Transit Systems pending a full forensic audit."
"Second, because Mr. Hollis has attempted to alienate our children from their primary caregiver through psychological coercion and financial abuse, I am requesting temporary sole physical and legal custody of Samuel and Owen."
Adrian gripped the edge of the mahogany table until his knuckles turned pure white.
He leaned across toward his counsel.
"Do something, Russell," Adrian whispered frantically, his voice trembling with panic.
"Tell him she can't do this."
Russell looked at his client with a mixture of pity and dread.
May you like
"Adrian," Russell whispered back, loud enough for the court reporter to catch, "if that trust is valid, you don't own the company."
"You work for her."
