Chapter 12 - The Heir Clause
Victoria's labor began at 3:40 in the afternoon.
By 4:15, the hospital floor was under police guard.
Julian reached her room breathless, still wearing the same suit from Graham's bedside.
Victoria grabbed his hand during the next contraction and nearly crushed his fingers.
"You took your time."
"Traffic."
"I hate traffic."
"I know."
"I hate your mother."
"I know."
"I may hate you a little too."
"Fair."
She almost laughed.
For twenty minutes, they were simply husband and wife.
Then Naomi arrived with a Sterling trustee and ruined the illusion.
"We have a problem," she said.
Victoria groaned. "Unless the problem is currently eight pounds and trying to leave my body, come back tomorrow."
Naomi held up a document.
"Someone filed an emergency petition in Cook County Probate Court one hour ago."
Julian's face hardened.
"For what?"
"To freeze Victoria's Sterling voting authority on grounds of medical incapacity."
Victoria stared at her.
"I'm in labor."
"The filing claims you suffered a psychiatric break after an assault and are unable to make financial decisions."
"Who filed it?"
Naomi hesitated.
"Eleanor."
Julian swore.
"She's in jail."
"Her attorney filed it under a durable power of attorney."
Victoria shook her head.
"She doesn't have one."
The trustee turned the paper around.
The document bore Victoria's signature.
Another forgery.
But this time there was a notary seal.
And two witnesses.
"If a judge accepts this?" Julian asked.
"Sterling control is frozen until a hearing."
"And who manages emergency decisions?"
The trustee looked uncomfortable.
"Under the heir clause, your unborn child becomes the contingent beneficiary upon birth. Until a guardian is appointed, the trust enters protective administration."
Victoria squeezed Julian's hand.
"Meaning?"
"No one can move the core assets."
Julian exhaled.
"Then Mercer gets nothing."
Naomi shook her head.
"Unless he gets custody leverage."
The words seemed obscene in a delivery room.
Victoria's contraction monitor spiked.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
The backup power engaged.
A nurse opened the door.
"Security is locking down the floor."
Julian stood.
"Why?"
The nurse looked frightened.
"Someone just pulled a fire alarm three floors below us."
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From the hallway came shouting.
Then a gunshot.
