Chapter 12: Cornered in Deposition
Chapter 12: Cornered in Deposition
Three days later, Julian Pierce walked into the conference room at Sterling, Vance & Hastings with the false, swaggering confidence of a man who believed he was untouchable. He was flanked by Harrison Croft, a notoriously aggressive defense attorney whose suits cost more than most cars.
The conference room was devoid of natural light, entirely soundproofed, and freezing cold. Eleanor sat at the head of the long mahogany table, perfectly composed in a sharp black suit. Michael sat beside her, fingers hovering over his laptop. A certified court reporter was positioned in the corner, her fingers resting lightly on her stenography machine.
"Let's make this quick, Eleanor," Julian sneered, pulling out a chair and sitting heavily. "I have an actual company to run. We're prepared to offer a two-million-dollar settlement for the defamation claims. Tax-free. You sign a non-disclosure agreement, and we all walk away."
Eleanor didn't even blink. She clicked her pen. "We are on the record. Mr. Pierce, please state your full name for the court reporter."
Harrison Croft leaned forward, placing a heavy hand on the table. "My client made a generous offer, Ms. Vance. I suggest you take it before we drag this out in court for a decade."
"Your offer is rejected," Eleanor said coldly. "State your name, Julian, or we will suspend the deposition and I will have the judge hold you in contempt."
Julian ground his teeth, glaring at her. "Julian Edward Pierce."
For the first two hours, Eleanor methodically walked Julian through the events of the wedding night. She forced him, under oath, to admit how much alcohol he had consumed. She forced him to watch the 4K video of his stumble, pausing it frame by frame to establish that little Lily was over five feet away. She then produced the emails authorizing Apex Strategy to launch the smear campaign against her.
Julian was sweating profusely. Croft objected repeatedly, but Eleanor expertly swatted his objections aside, building a titanium-clad case for the fifty-million-dollar defamation suit.
"Now," Eleanor said, checking her watch. "Let's discuss the damages. You claim that paying a fifty-million-dollar judgment would cause undue financial hardship to you and Vanguard Tech."
"Objection, relevance," Croft snapped.
"It goes directly to the defendant's ability to pay the punitive damages, Mr. Croft," Eleanor countered smoothly. She looked back at Julian. "Mr. Pierce, as the CEO, you have a fiduciary duty to Vanguard Tech’s investors, correct?"
Julian shifted uncomfortably in his leather chair. "Yes."
"And corporate funds are strictly for operational growth, payroll, and authorized business expenses?"
"Obviously," Julian scoffed, regaining a fraction of his arrogance. "I built this company from nothing. I know how to manage money."
"Fascinating," Eleanor murmured.
She didn't raise her voice. She didn't make a grand theatrical gesture. She simply reached into her leather folder, pulled out a thick stack of printed documents, and slid them across the mahogany table.
Julian looked down. The top document was a wire transfer receipt. It showed $300,000 moving from Vanguard Tech’s primary operating fund to an entity called Apex Holdings, and then directly to the Plaza Hotel’s banqueting department.
The color instantly drained from Julian’s face. He looked exactly as he had the moment the video was played at the wedding: utterly, helplessly terrified.
"Can you explain to the court, under oath, why Vanguard Tech investor capital was used to pay for your personal wedding reception, including a five-thousand-dollar Baccarat crystal champagne tower?" Eleanor asked, her voice lethal and precise.
Harrison Croft practically lunged across the table, snatching the document. He scanned it, his eyes widening in horror as he saw the unmistakable routing numbers and Julian’s digital signature.
"Where did you get this?" Croft demanded, his voice cracking.
"Discovery," Eleanor replied calmly. "And if you look at the second page, you will see a two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar wire transfer to Cartier. Mr. Pierce, did your investors authorize the purchase of your wife's jewelry?"
"Don't answer that!" Croft shouted, slamming his hand down on the papers. He turned to Julian, who was completely frozen, his mouth opening and closing like a suffocating fish.
Croft looked back at Eleanor, recognizing the executioner sitting across from him. "This deposition is over. We are taking an immediate recess."
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"You can run, Mr. Croft," Eleanor said softly, leaning forward. "But you should know I sent those exact ledgers to the Manhattan District Attorney and the SEC three hours ago. The civil suit is the least of your client's problems."
Julian didn't say a word. He just stared at Eleanor, finally realizing that he hadn't just crossed the wrong mother. He had crossed the woman who was going to bury him alive.
