Chapter 7 - The Downfall of the Golden Boy
Before Margot could fire back, the French doors at the end of the hall swung wide open.
Richard Kensington—Victoria’s father and the CEO of Kensington Capital—walked into the corridor. He didn't look like a proud father-in-law. He looked like an executioner.
Behind him were two private security officers and Victoria, who had already removed her diamond-studded tiara, holding it loosely in her hand like a piece of worthless glass.
"Richard!" Margot gasped, instantly attempting to paste on her high-society smile. "We were just having a small family discussion—"
"Save it, Mrs. Ramsey," Richard Kensington said coldly. He held up a thick manila folder. "My firm's forensic accountants just finished running a deep audit on Spencer’s so-called 'high-yield fund.' The one he claimed was backing veteran logistics."
Spencer came stumbling into the corridor behind them, breathless, his bow tie completely undone. "Richard, wait! Please, give me five minutes to explain the liquidity issue—"
"Liquidity issue?" Richard turned, his gaze cutting Spencer off mid-sentence. "You were running an affinity scam, Spencer. You took money from elderly military retirees by using your sister’s name and service record to gain their trust, and then you funnelled that capital into margin calls on failing tech shorts."
My blood went cold.
I stepped away from the wall, my eyes locking onto Spencer. "You did *what*?"
Spencer backed away, his eyes darting wildly between me, Richard, and Victoria. "Griffin, it was an investment vehicle! I was going to pay them back! It was just temporary leverage!"
"You used my name?" I took two strides toward him. The military bearing dropped for a fraction of a second, replaced by the lethal focus of someone who had cleared hostile compounds in Helmand Province. "You used my blood to steal from veterans?"
Spencer cowered against the marble wall, putting his hands up. "Mom told me to! She said nobody checks veteran funds! She said it was the easiest way to show the Kensingtons we had community standing!"
"Spencer, shut your mouth!" Margot screamed, her face contorting in panic.
"It’s over," Victoria said, stepping forward. She looked down at the massive engagement ring on her finger. With one cold, deliberate tug, she slipped the platinum diamond band off and tossed it at Spencer’s feet. It bounced off his polished shoe and skittered across the marble floor.
"Victoria, please!" Spencer dropped to his knees, clawing at the stone floor to pick up the ring. "We're married! The papers are signed!"
"The marriage hasn't been consummated, and the license hasn't been filed with the town clerk," Richard Kensington stated with absolute, terrifying calm. "My attorneys are already filing for an immediate annulment on grounds of criminal fraud. And by tomorrow morning, the Securities and Exchange Commission will have this folder on their desks."
Richard turned to the two security guards. "Escort Mr. Spencer Ramsey and Mrs. Margot Ramsey off the property immediately. If they step foot on Kensington land again, have them arrested for trespassing."
"You can't do this!" Margot shrieked, as a security guard took her by the elbow. "Do you know who we are? We are the Ramseys!"
"Nobody cares who you are, Margot," Emmett said quietly from behind her.
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He didn't run. He didn't look down. He took off his wedding band, dropped it onto a marble console table beside a vase of hydrangeas, and turned his back on his wife.
***