Chapter 4 · Tricked Into a Divorce, I Crushed His Empire

That night, Michael Grant called.

Michael was my father's old partner. After my dad passed away, he took over most of my dad's network in the business and became the mastermind behind my stock buyout.

"Claire, Lane & Sutton Holdings dropped another four points today," Michael said. "Rumor has it their cash flow is tight, and the big players are offloading shares."

"Got it," I replied.

"When are you going to make your move?"

"Let's hold off for now."

"How much longer are you planning to wait?"

I paused, thinking it over. "Until selling their headquarters can't fix the mess."

Michael chuckled on the other end of the line. "If Benjamin saw you like this, he'd probably be proud, but he'd also feel a bit bad for you."

"He wouldn't feel bad for me," I replied. "He'd say, 'Well done.'"

After hanging up, I turned on my laptop.

Lane & Sutton Holdings' third-quarter report was coming out next week.

I'd already seen the numbers leaked by insiders.

Their so-called revenue growth was smoke and mirrors.

Their reported profits were barely kept afloat by shady deals with their own affiliates.

The hole in their accounts receivable was so big that it could swallow half a building.

Andrew had spread himself way too thin chasing that IPO. Now, every single business line was bleeding cash, and not a single one was bringing in money.

His biggest backer, Simmons Realty, Rose's family business, had been hit with an embezzlement scandal last month. They could barely keep their own heads above water.

He was already cornered. There was no way out unless someone came up with one billion dollars in cash to plug that hole before the third-quarter report dropped.

But in this world, there was no one left who'd be willing to give him money at a time like this.

No one would do it anymore.

*****

On the day the third-quarter report dropped, Lane & Sutton Holdings' stock tanked right out of the gate.

The whole finance world was buzzing about it.

The news read: [Lane & Sutton Holdings blows up. Andrew Lane is facing a massive 1.3-billion-dollar debt.

[Once a darling of the investors, now drowning in debt?

[Insiders spill: Multiple Lane & Sutton Holdings projects have ground to a halt.]

I was sitting in the break room at my studio, scrolling through my phone with one headline after another.

Sophie's message popped up: [Girl! Did you see the news? Andrew is totally screwed.]

Me: [Yep, I saw it.]

Sophie: [Serves him right. Karma's a bitch. How do you feel? Happy?]

I paused, thinking it over.

Me: [Not really feeling anything.]

It was true. I felt nothing.

I was neither happy nor sad.

It was as if I were watching someone who had nothing to do with me fall right into a pit he dug for himself.

Michael called right after. "Claire, should we make a move now?"

"Not yet," I replied.

"He's running around like a headless chicken, desperately begging anyone who'll listen. Banks won't lend, and investors won't bail him out. His only option now is to bring in a strategic investor and hand over control," Michael said.

"I know."

"Is this what you've been waiting for?"

"Yeah. "Waiting for him to finally say, 'I don't care who saves me, as long as someone does.'"

Michael was quiet for a moment. "Alright. I'll have my people keep an eye on things."

*****

Another week went by.

Lane & Sutton Holdings was in worse shape than I'd expected.

Videos of suppliers camping out at the front door, demanding their money, went viral.

Two construction sites were shut down, and people hung protest banners.

Three banks hit them with demand letters all at once.

The real killer was that the Securities and Exchange Commission had launched an investigation.

All those dodgy deals Andrew pulled to make the numbers look good were now getting exposed.

If they proved it was financial fraud, it would not only mean getting delisted, but he could also be looking at jail time.

Simon sent me a message: [Ms. Sutton, Lane & Sutton Holdings' board is holding an emergency meeting tomorrow. Apparently, Andrew's looking to bring in outside capital for a debt restructuring.]

Me: [Has he talked to anyone yet?]

Simon: [He's spoken to three parties, but their terms are pretty harsh. The closest one wants him to give up the CEO spot and hand over 51% of the shares.]

Me: [Did he agree?]

Simon: [Apparently, he's still on the fence.]

I set my phone down.

Andrew was still hesitating.

That means he hadn't hit rock bottom yet.

I'd wait a bit longer.

*****

The final blow that shattered Andrew didn't come from the market. It came from his wife.

Twelve days after the third-quarter report exploded, a gossip headline shot straight to the top of the trending charts. [Rose Simmons spotted meeting a mysterious man late at night, allegedly transferring marital assets.]

The photos were crystal clear.

Rose stepped out of a black SUV with a middle-aged man, probably in his fifties, and together they walked into a law firm.

I recognized the guy.

He was Simmons Realty's top legal guy, the one who set up family trusts and made sure their money stayed out of anyone else's hands.

The comments section was blowing up.

[LOL, she's bailing before the ship sinks!]

[Classic. Marriage is all good until trouble hits. Then it's every man for himself.]

[Poor Andrew, getting cheated on and going broke all at once.]

Sophie sent a voice message right away. "I'm laughing so hard that my stomach hurts!"

But I didn't crack a smile because deep down, I knew exactly what Rose's move meant.

The Simmons family still held about 7% of Lane & Sutton Holdings. If they dumped their shares, the stock would tank harder.

If Rose filed for divorce and started demanding a share of Andrew's personal stake, then the 29% Andrew still had in Lane & Sutton Holdings would get sliced in half.

By then, he'd be left with nothing.

Michael called right on time. "It's done. The Simmons family offloaded 4% of their Lane & Sutton Holdings shares in a block trade this afternoon."

"Who picked them up?" I asked.

"I did with the seventh account."

"Alright. How much do we have now?"

"38.7 percent."

I stared at the number. "Keep an eye on it. The Simmons family still has 3% left. She'll definitely dump the rest."

"Got it," Michael replied.

Chapter 4

That night, Michael Grant called.

Michael was my father's old partner. After my dad passed away, he took over most of my dad's network in the business and became the mastermind behind my stock buyout.

"Claire, Lane & Sutton Holdings dropped another four points today," Michael said. "Rumor has it their cash flow is tight, and the big players are offloading shares."

"Got it," I replied.

"When are you going to make your move?"

"Let's hold off for now."

"How much longer are you planning to wait?"

I paused, thinking it over. "Until selling their headquarters can't fix the mess."

Michael chuckled on the other end of the line. "If Benjamin saw you like this, he'd probably be proud, but he'd also feel a bit bad for you."

"He wouldn't feel bad for me," I replied. "He'd say, 'Well done.'"

After hanging up, I turned on my laptop.

Lane & Sutton Holdings' third-quarter report was coming out next week.

I'd already seen the numbers leaked by insiders.

Their so-called revenue growth was smoke and mirrors.

Their reported profits were barely kept afloat by shady deals with their own affiliates.

The hole in their accounts receivable was so big that it could swallow half a building.

Andrew had spread himself way too thin chasing that IPO. Now, every single business line was bleeding cash, and not a single one was bringing in money.

His biggest backer, Simmons Realty, Rose's family business, had been hit with an embezzlement scandal last month. They could barely keep their own heads above water.

He was already cornered. There was no way out unless someone came up with one billion dollars in cash to plug that hole before the third-quarter report dropped.

But in this world, there was no one left who'd be willing to give him money at a time like this.

No one would do it anymore.

*****

On the day the third-quarter report dropped, Lane & Sutton Holdings' stock tanked right out of the gate.

The whole finance world was buzzing about it.

The news read: [Lane & Sutton Holdings blows up. Andrew Lane is facing a massive 1.3-billion-dollar debt.

[Once a darling of the investors, now drowning in debt?

[Insiders spill: Multiple Lane & Sutton Holdings projects have ground to a halt.]

I was sitting in the break room at my studio, scrolling through my phone with one headline after another.

Sophie's message popped up: [Girl! Did you see the news? Andrew is totally screwed.]

Me: [Yep, I saw it.]

Sophie: [Serves him right. Karma's a bitch. How do you feel? Happy?]

I paused, thinking it over.

Me: [Not really feeling anything.]

It was true. I felt nothing.

I was neither happy nor sad.

It was as if I were watching someone who had nothing to do with me fall right into a pit he dug for himself.

Michael called right after. "Claire, should we make a move now?"

"Not yet," I replied.

"I know."

"Is this what you've been waiting for?"

"Yeah. "Waiting for him to finally say, 'I don't care who saves me, as long as someone does.'"

Michael was quiet for a moment. "Alright. I'll have my people keep an eye on things."

*****

Another week went by.

Lane & Sutton Holdings was in worse shape than I'd expected.

Videos of suppliers camping out at the front door, demanding their money, went viral.

Two construction sites were shut down, and people hung protest banners.

Three banks hit them with demand letters all at once.

The real killer was that the Securities and Exchange Commission had launched an investigation.

All those dodgy deals Andrew pulled to make the numbers look good were now getting exposed.

If they proved it was financial fraud, it would not only mean getting delisted, but he could also be looking at jail time.

Simon sent me a message: [Ms. Sutton, Lane & Sutton Holdings' board is holding an emergency meeting tomorrow. Apparently, Andrew's looking to bring in outside capital for a debt restructuring.]

Me: [Has he talked to anyone yet?]

Simon: [He's spoken to three parties, but their terms are pretty harsh. The closest one wants him to give up the CEO spot and hand over 51% of the shares.]

Me: [Did he agree?]

Simon: [Apparently, he's still on the fence.]

I set my phone down.

Andrew was still hesitating.

That means he hadn't hit rock bottom yet.

I'd wait a bit longer.

*****

The final blow that shattered Andrew didn't come from the market. It came from his wife.

The photos were crystal clear.

Rose stepped out of a black SUV with a middle-aged man, probably in his fifties, and together they walked into a law firm.

I recognized the guy.

He was Simmons Realty's top legal guy, the one who set up family trusts and made sure their money stayed out of anyone else's hands.

The comments section was blowing up.

[LOL, she's bailing before the ship sinks!]

[Classic. Marriage is all good until trouble hits. Then it's every man for himself.]

[Poor Andrew, getting cheated on and going broke all at once.]

Sophie sent a voice message right away. "I'm laughing so hard that my stomach hurts!"

But I didn't crack a smile because deep down, I knew exactly what Rose's move meant.

The Simmons family still held about 7% of Lane & Sutton Holdings. If they dumped their shares, the stock would tank harder.

If Rose filed for divorce and started demanding a share of Andrew's personal stake, then the 29% Andrew still had in Lane & Sutton Holdings would get sliced in half.

By then, he'd be left with nothing.

Michael called right on time. "It's done. The Simmons family offloaded 4% of their Lane & Sutton Holdings shares in a block trade this afternoon."

"Who picked them up?" I asked.

"I did with the seventh account."

"Alright. How much do we have now?"

"38.7 percent."

I stared at the number. "Keep an eye on it. The Simmons family still has 3% left. She'll definitely dump the rest."

"Got it," Michael replied.