Chapter 2 - The Default ClauseMarcus’s voice on the other end of the line was immediately tense. "Ms. Vance? Is everything alright? The rehearsal dinner is scheduled for tonight at six, and the final floral installations are going in at dawn."
"The installation is canceled, Marcus," I said calmly.
Silence stretched across the phone line for three agonizing seconds. "Canceled? Ms. Vance, your brother and his fiancée were just here reviewing the seating chart. They said—"
"Julian and Chloe don't own the contract," I interrupted, my tone dropping an octave into corporate-negotiation mode. "Section 14, Paragraph C of the master vendor agreement. Read it to me, Marcus."
I heard the rustle of paper through the speaker. Marcus’s breath hitched.
"In the event of a breach of contract, financial default by secondary signatories, or revocation of guarantor backing by the primary financier, all reserved rights, property access, and logistical provisions revert instantly and exclusively to Evelyn Vance." Marcus swallowed hard. "Mrs. Vance... are you revoking backing?"
"They locked me out of the event, Marcus. Literally and figuratively," I replied, staring out at the glittering skyline of the city. "And worse, they violated the indemnification clause by attempting to host unverified media partners without my prior written consent—a clear breach of our privacy rider."
It was a brilliant lie, but in corporate law, perception is reality, and contracts are written to protect the person who holds the checkbook.
"If I pull my backing," I continued, "not only does the venue reservation terminate immediately, but your company retains the right to seize all deposited assets as liquidated damages for default. Unless..."
"Unless what, Ms. Vance?" Marcus pleaded. He had spent six months planning this high-profile wedding for a feature in Society Luxe magazine. Losing Cedar Grove would be a disaster for his portfolio.
"Unless you grant me exclusive administrative control over tomorrow's guest list, vendor access, and venue entry," I said. "And you say nothing to Julian or Chloe until I give the word. Can you do that?"
May you like
"Consider it done," Marcus whispered.
I hung up, a slow, predatory smile touching the corners of my lips. Julian wanted to play high society? Let's see how he looks when the doors are bolted from the inside.
