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Most people assume that because I dress simply, I am simple. They assume that because my husband died ten years ago, I am a lonely widow living on a pension.<\/p>\n
They don\u2019t know that my husband and I founded\u00a0Vanguard Holdings<\/i>, a private equity firm that owns half the commercial real estate in the city. When he passed, I didn\u2019t retire. I became the Chairman.<\/p>\n
I keep my name off the letterhead now. I like anonymity. It helps me see who people really are.<\/p>\n
I sat at my desk at 10:00 PM. I opened the safe.<\/p>\n
I pulled out a file labeled\u00a0\u201cProject: Prodigal Son.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
Inside were the documents detailing the financing for \u201cThe Glass Box.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard had applied for the mortgage six months ago. His credit was mediocre. His income was sporadic. No bank would touch him for a five-million-dollar loan.<\/p>\n
So, he went to a private lender called\u00a0Chimera Capital<\/i>.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t know that\u00a0Chimera Capital<\/i>\u00a0was a shell company I created solely to help him without him knowing. I funded his lifestyle. I held the note.<\/p>\n
I put on my reading glasses. I scanned the contract.<\/p>\n
There it was.\u00a0Clause 14B: The \u201cAt-Will\u201d Demand Feature.<\/b><\/p>\n
Because it was a high-risk private loan, the terms were aggressive. The lender (me<\/i>) had the right to call the full balance of the loan due immediately if the borrower engaged in \u201cconduct detrimental to the reputation of the lender\u201d or if the lender simply decided to restructure their portfolio.<\/p>\n
Bella had pushed me. She had physically assaulted the Chairman of the Board.<\/p>\n
I picked up the phone. I dialed my personal attorney, Mr. Henderson.<\/p>\n
\u201cMargaret?\u201d he answered, his voice sleepy. \u201cIt\u2019s late.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWake up, George,\u201d I said. \u201cI need you to draft a foreclosure notice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cForeclosure? On which property?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Malibu house,\u201d I said. \u201cRichard\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d George asked. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 that\u2019s your son.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe watched his wife push me onto a concrete floor, George. And he did nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see,\u201d George\u2019s tone hardened. \u201cWhen do you want it served?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait two weeks,\u201d I said. \u201cLet them get settled. Let them unpack the china. Let them think they\u2019ve won.\u201d<\/p>\n