Mark: Richard? What's going on? You sound frantic on the phone.
Richard: Mark, thank God you answered! Veronica just had a massive mental breakdown on the patio. She threatened to leave me and take half the company assets!
Mark: What? What happened? Did you guys have an argument?
Richard: Yes, it was horrible. She left in a rage. I need you to come to the mansion immediately with the prenuptial agreement and asset protection files. Please, hurry!
Mark: Take a deep breath, Richard. I'm leaving my office right now. I'll be at your estate in twenty minutes. Don't touch or sign anything until I get there.
Richard: Thank you, Mark. I don't know what I'd do without you.
Richard ended the call and turned to face Elena, who was holding little Noah, now wrapped in a warm fleece blanket.
Richard: He's taking the bait. He just left his downtown firm. That leaves his main office completely unattended for at least half an hour.
Elena: My sister works as a night-shift cleaning supervisor at that exact downtown office building. She has the master key card for the executive floor.
Richard: Are you sure she will help us?
Elena: She owes me a favor, and she knows how much Noah means to me. I'll text her right now to let us in through the private basement entrance.
Richard: Good. I'll stay here to stall Mark when he arrives. Take my personal driver and go straight to his floor. You need to find the blue folder marked 'Sterling Master Estate Amendment'.
Elena: What if the safe is locked with a digital passcode?
Richard: Mark uses his old law school bar examination ID number for everything. Write this down: 849201. Try that first.
Elena: Got it. I won't fail you, Mr. Sterling.
Fifteen minutes later, a heavy black SUV pulled up to the side entrance of the downtown financial tower. Rain had started to drizzle over the city, casting dark reflections across the sleek glass skyscraper. Elena rushed out of the vehicle, pulling her hoodie over her head as she met her sister Maria at the service door.
Maria: Elena! What is going on? You said on the phone this was a emergency!
Elena: Maria, please don't ask questions right now. The Sterling family is being robbed from the inside, and little Noah's future is on the line. Take me to Mark Vance's office!
Maria: Okay, okay! Follow me through the freight elevator. The security guards are on their meal break.
They hurried through the quiet, carpeted hallways of the fourteenth floor. Maria swiped her master key card against the dark oak double doors of Vance & Associates Legal Firm. The lock clicked, and the heavy doors swung open into a dimly lit executive suite.
Elena: Where is his main private office?
Maria: Down the hall to the left. The one with the corner view of the city.
Elena pushed open the office door, her breath catching in her throat. The room smelled of expensive leather and stale cigars. Sitting against the back wall, partially hidden behind a large bookshelf, was a heavy steel wall safe.
Elena: There it is.
She rushed over, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She stared at the digital keypad, her fingers trembling as she typed in the digits: 8-4-9-2-0-1. The keypad beeped green, and a heavy mechanical latch unlocked with a sharp clack.
Maria: You did it! Hurry, grab what you need!
Elena pulled the heavy steel door open, reaching inside. Stacked neatly inside were bundles of hundred-dollar bills, several foreign passports, and a thick blue leather folder labelled 'Sterling Estate Amendment'. She grabbed the folder, flipping through the pages quickly.
Elena: Look at this... forged signatures, fake medical evaluation reports declaring Mr. Sterling unfit... they were planning to take everything!
Suddenly, the outer door of the office suite clicked open. Heavy, steady footsteps echoed down the hallway toward them.
Maria: Oh my God... someone is coming!
Elena: Hide! Behind the curtains!
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