“Mr. and Mrs. Cross,” my father began, his voice low and resonant. “My name is Robert Hart. I am the Managing Director of Hartwell Capital.”

Daniel froze. The color instantly drained from his face. “Hartwell? No, that’s… you’re schoolteachers. Olivia said you lived in the valley.”

“We own a home in the valley,” my mother stated calmly, stepping forward and placing a folder on the marble table. “We also own the debt structure that keeps your family’s boutique hotel chain from entering involuntary bankruptcy. Or rather, we did until forty-eight hours ago.”

Vivian’s hand flew to her pearls. “What is the meaning of this? Daniel, what are they talking about?”

Daniel looked as though he might throw up. He knew the financial reality of his family’s business. They had been surviving on a revolving line of credit, waiting for a major refinancing package to be approved by their primary lender. That lender was a shell company wholly owned by my father’s firm.

“Two days ago, an act of aggravated assault took place in this room,” my father continued, his tone entirely devoid of emotion. “We have the cloud footage from the exterior security system. It details the exact nature of the assault, as well as the complicity of your son in restraining my daughter.”

“That’s a private residence!” Vivian stammered, her voice rising an octave. “You can’t use that! It was an accident!”

“The footage has already been reviewed by the district attorney’s office,” my mother said, opening the folder to reveal a signed warrant and a copy of the formal felony charges for corporate and personal injury. “The arrest warrants will be executed within the hour. But before the police arrive, we are here to discuss the commercial side of your behavior.”

My father took a seat on the leather sofa, looking thoroughly at home. “As of nine o’clock this morning, Hartwell Capital has declared the Cross Group in default of its primary loan covenants due to material reputational risk and illegal conduct on corporate-adjacent property. We have initiated foreclosure proceedings on your flagship properties in Chicago and New York.”

“You can’t do that!” Daniel shouted, taking a step toward my father, only to be blocked immediately by the two security men who had entered behind us. “We have a contract!”