Chapter 7 - The Managing Partner's Office
The following morning at 9:00 AM, I sat in the executive corner office of Vance, Sterling & Associates—the prestigious law firm where Diego worked.
Lucia sat beside me, placing a sleek black iPad on the wide glass desk of Richard Vance, the founding managing partner of the firm.
Richard Vance was a distinguished man in his sixties, with silver hair and a sharp, calculating glare. He was also the older brother of Arthur Vance—the defense attorney Diego had brought to court.
"Mrs. Ruiz," Richard Vance said smoothly, folding his hands on his desk. "My brother informed me of the unfortunate marital dispute between you and Diego. While we sympathize with personal domestic issues, bringing police officers to our firm’s parking lot yesterday to serve paperwork on Diego was highly unprofessional."
Lucia chuckled, tapping the iPad screen. "Mr. Vance, we didn't come here to discuss Diego's hurt feelings. We came here to discuss your firm's liability."
Richard Vance's eyebrows raised slightly. "Our liability?"
"Diego used his firm issued laptop and corporate network credentials at 2:15 PM on the 14th to execute an illegal wire transfer of marital assets into a fraudulent account," Lucia explained calmly, sliding a printed audit log across the desk. "Furthermore, he listed this firm's private trust escrow address as the registered entity for that account."
Richard Vance picked up the paper, his eyes scanning the server IP addresses and transaction signatures. His calm demeanor began to crack.
"Diego used our firm's private trust registration number?" Vance asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper.
"Yes," Lucia said. "Which means your firm is now implicated in a federal banking fraud investigation regarding the concealment of marital property. And if that isn't enough..."
Lucia tapped the iPad.
The audio recording of Diego’s phone call from the night of the incident filled the quiet office: “She threw a tantrum... My mother raised three successful men... You leave with nothing. No money, no credit cards...”
Followed by the high-resolution medical photographs of Sofía's bruised arm.
Richard Vance stared at the iPad screen. His face grew paler with every second.
"This is domestic child abuse, financial fraud, and ethics violations under the Illinois State Bar Code," Lucia stated flatly. "The Chicago Legal Gazette has already reached out to my office asking for a statement regarding the domestic violence charges surrounding one of your junior associates."
Richard Vance set the iPad down carefully. He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
He reached for his desk phone and hit a speed-dial button.
"Brenda," Vance commanded flatly to his secretary. "Tell Diego Ruiz to come to my office immediately. Bring a security officer with you."
Two minutes later, the office door opened.
Diego walked in, holding a leather notepad, smiling smoothly. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Vance? I have the summary for the commercial deal—"
Diego froze mid-sentence as his eyes caught me and Lucia sitting in the leather armchairs across from his boss.
"Verónica?" Diego stammered, his face flushing red. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Sit down, Diego," Richard Vance said, his voice terrifyingly quiet.
"Mr. Vance, whatever she told you, she's lying!" Diego pleaded frantically, stepping toward the desk. "She’s unstable! She's trying to sabotage my career because of a divorce!"
"Shut your mouth, Diego," Richard Vance commanded sharply.
Vance pushed the audit log across the glass table. "Did you use our firm's corporate trust identification to route your personal marital funds into a private account?"
Diego looked down at the paper. His jaw dropped. "I... I was going to adjust the registration paperwork tomorrow—"
"You committed felony wire fraud using this firm's infrastructure," Richard Vance said, standing up from his chair, his eyes burning with pure, professional fury. "You dragged our sixty-year reputation into a child abuse scandal. As of this second, your employment with Vance, Sterling & Associates is terminated for cause."
"Mr. Vance, please!" Diego gasped, dropping his notepad. "I'm on track for partner this year! You can't fire me over a domestic dispute!"
"Security is currently clearing out your desk," Vance continued cold and unyielding. "Your bar association ethics report will be filed by our legal counsel before 5:00 PM today. Hand over your keycard and leave the building immediately."
Two uniformed security guards stepped into the room, grabbing Diego by both elbows.
Diego looked at me, his eyes wide with a terrifying mix of shock, desperation, and total ruin.
"Verónica..." he whispered, his voice cracking. "Please... talk to him. You're ruining my life..."
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I sat quietly in my chair, crossed my legs, and looked him dead in the eye.
"You ruined your own life, Diego," I said softly. "I just turned on the lights."
