Chapter 3 - The Bricked SUV in the Valet Bay
Inside the grand dining room of Ocean Prime, Adelaide and Courtney sat staring in horrified disbelief as Brandon frantically dialed the private banking hotline.
“We’re sorry. The account associated with this social security number has been locked under an emergency discovery petition.”
Adelaide clutched her pearl necklace, her face turning the color of curdled milk. “Brandon! What does that mean?! Did that ungrateful girl shut down my shopping accounts too?!”
“Shut up, Mom!” Brandon snapped, sweating through his tailored shirt.
The head manager stepped over with two security guards, folding his arms. “Sir, if this $4,280 bill is not settled in cash or verified credit within five minutes, we are escorting your party to the precinct.”
In absolute humiliation, Courtney was forced to surrender her designer handbag, her gold bracelet, and Brandon had to hand over his $15,000 Patek Philippe watch as physical collateral to avoid spending the night in a holding cell.
When the disgraced trio stumbled out to the valet stand in the freezing rain, Brandon tossed his ticket to the attendant.
“Bring the white Lincoln Navigator around. Now!”
The valet jogged to the vehicle, pressed the ignition, and stepped back in bewilderment.
The Lincoln Navigator’s digital dashboard was illuminated in bright red text:
VEHICLE DISABLED VIA SATELLITE REPOSSESSION OVERRIDE — RETURN FLEET ASSET TO STERLING GLOBAL.
The hydraulic brakes were locked solid. The transmission was bricked. The doors automatically bolted shut from the outside.
Brandon threw himself against the driver’s side window, screaming in rabid, pathetic fury: “Open the door! This is my car! Elena, open the damn car!”
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Standing in the rain on the sidewalk, Adelaide began weeping loudly while Courtney ruined her silk dress on the wet pavement.
They had walked out of the hospital like kings. They were walking home in the mud like beggars.
