The Forgotten Heir's Payback

Chapter 10: The Loan Execution

Julian did not wait for Chloe to reply. He turned his back on her muddy dress, grabbed his coat, and walked straight out of the Vance family house.

He slammed the front door so hard the glass window shook. He had no time to worry about Chloe or her mother. He had to save his own family business before the sun came fully up.

Two hours later, the morning sun shone brightly across the city skyline. The giant glass walls of the Grand Dragon Financial Building glinted like pure gold.

A sleek black town car pulled up to the main entrance. Julian stepped out, wearing his finest dark suit and shiny leather shoes. Beside him stood his father, Richard Sterling. Richard was a tall, heavy man with gray hair and a thick golden ring on his thumb. He walked with his chin high, looking down at everyone who passed by.

"Dad, are you sure the bank will release the money today?" Julian asked, wiping a small drop of sweat from his forehead. "The news about Beatrice is spreading fast on social media."

Richard snorted loudly, adjusting his silk tie. "Do not worry, son. News about a broke woman does not matter to big banks. I have known the directors of this bank for ten years. Money speaks louder than cheap gossip. Once we sign this fifty million dollar contract, no one in this city will dare laugh at us."

Julian breathed a sigh of relief. He pictured Lucas’s arrogant face from last night and grinned bitterly. He thought to himself that Lucas might own a night club, but fifty million dollars was real power that a former stay at home husband could never touch.

They walked through the front doors into the grand lobby. Marble floors stretched out under high ceilings, and rich business leaders walked around in quiet chatter.

A young female secretary in a dark suit walked up to them, bowing politely. "Mr. Richard Sterling and Mr. Julian Sterling?"

"Yes, that is us," Richard said in a loud, booming voice so the people nearby could hear him. "We are here for our fifty million dollar loan execution meeting. Take us to the top floor immediately."

The secretary smiled. "Of course, sir. The Chief Managing Partner is waiting for you in the executive corner office."

Julian’s eyes lit up with excitement. The Chief Managing Partner was the highest executive position in the entire financial empire. He leaned over to his father and whispered, "Dad, getting an interview with the Chief Managing Partner means they are giving us royal treatment!"

"Of course they are," Richard replied proudly, puffing out his wide chest. "Our family business is the backbone of this city's economy. They need us as much as we need them."

They entered the private gold elevator. The screen showed the numbers going up fast until it beeped at the hundredth floor.

The elevator doors opened to a carpeted hallway lined with high class paintings. The secretary led them down the hall to a massive double door made of solid dark wood. She knocked twice softly and opened the doors.

"Please step inside, gentlemen," she said, holding the door open.

Richard and Julian walked into the office. The room was huge, with tall glass windows showing a panoramic view of the entire city below. A massive mahogany desk sat near the center of the room, facing away from the door. High back leather chairs were placed in front of the desk.

Sitting in the main executive chair behind the desk was a man with his back turned toward them, looking out at the city view.

Richard cleared his throat and walked forward with big, confident steps. He extended his right hand toward the back of the chair, his golden ring shining under the lights.

"Good morning, Chief Managing Partner!" Richard announced in his loudest, most impressive voice. "I am Richard Sterling, head of Sterling Enterprises, and this is my son, Julian. We are here to finalize the fifty million dollar credit line for our company expansion."

The executive chair did not move right away.

Richard smiled arrogantly, taking a seat in one of the leather armchairs without being invited. "I must say, your bank made a wise choice selecting Sterling Enterprises. My family has ruled the commercial market in this city for twenty years. My word is like gold in this town. When you invest in my family, you invest in total success!"

Julian sat down next to his father, crossing his legs proudly. "Yes, Partner. My father and I have great plans. Once this fifty million enters our account today, we will buy out our smaller rivals and double our profits by the end of the year."

A quiet chuckle echoed through the large room. It was a smooth, calm sound that made the hairs on the back of Julian's neck stand straight up.

Julian’s smile froze instantly. That laugh sounded terrifyingly familiar.

Slowly, the heavy leather executive chair spun around to face them.

Lucas sat comfortably in the main chair. He wore a sharp black three piece suit with a dark red tie. His hands were folded neatly on top of the polished mahogany desk. On his left side sat Butler Thomas, holding a thick leather folder. On his right stood Victoria Thorne, looking at the two men with sharp, cold eyes.

Richard’s mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared at the young man sitting in the supreme chair of the world's largest private bank.

Julian jumped out of his leather seat like he had been hit by lightning. His face went completely white, his knees shaking so hard he almost tripped over his own feet.

"You?" Julian shrieked, his voice breaking into a high pitch squeak. "Lucas? What... what are you doing in that chair? Get out of that chair right now! That is the Chief Managing Partner's seat!"

Richard turned to his son in deep confusion, his brow furrowed tightly. "Julian! Who is this boy? Do you know him?"

"Dad!" Julian stammered out, pointing a shaking finger at Lucas. "He is Lucas! He is Chloe's useless stay at home husband! The beggar I told you about!"

Richard’s face turned bright red with pure anger. He slammed his heavy hand onto the mahogany desk, making the glass cups rattle. "What kind of joke is this? Where is the real manager? Why is a servant boy sitting behind this desk?"

Victoria took one step forward, her eyes flashing like sharp daggers. "Watch your mouth, Richard Sterling! You are speaking to Lucas Vance, the supreme owner and Chief Managing Partner of Grand Dragon Financial Group!"

The words hit Richard like a heavy metal hammer. He staggered backward two steps, grabbing the edge of the leather chair to keep himself from falling to the floor.

"No... that is impossible!" Richard gasped out, sweat pouring down his forehead. "He is just a nobody! He was a cook for the Vance family!"

Lucas leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the clean desk. He looked at Richard and Julian with a calm, freezing smile that sent cold shivers straight down their spines.

"My grandfather made me hide my identity for three years, Richard," Lucas said, his voice quiet, clear, and full of absolute power. "That time ended yesterday. Now, I run every single dollar that moves through this city."

Julian fell back into his chair, his mind completely numb with terror. All the arrogance he had built up over the past three years shattered into a thousand tiny pieces in a single second. The man he had mocked, insulted, and tried to ruin was the very king who held his family's life in his hands.

Lucas reached out his right hand. Butler Thomas immediately opened the thick leather folder and placed a single white document on the mahogany desk right in front of Lucas.

At the very top of the page, in bold black ink, were the words: OFFICIAL LOAN AGREEMENT FOR STERLING ENTERPRISES: $50,000,000.

Richard’s eyes went wide as he saw the paper. He threw away all his pride in an instant, dropping to his knees right in front of the desk.

"Mr. Vance! Young Master Lucas!" Richard cried out, his voice filled with deep panic. "Please forgive my son! He did not know who you were! We need this money! If we do not get this fifty million dollars today, our factories will close, and our business will be ruined by afternoon!"

Julian scrambled out of his seat and dropped onto his knees right beside his father, tears spilling down his cheeks. "Lucas! Please! I am sorry for everything I said! I will leave Chloe! I will never talk to her again! Just give us the loan!"

Lucas looked down at the father and son begging on the floor like desperate dogs. He did not say a word.

Slowly, Lucas picked up the fifty million dollar loan contract from the desk. He held the thick paper in his hands, looking at the signatures on the bottom line.

He looked up at Julian and Richard, giving them a soft, cold smile.

Without saying a single word, Lucas turned his body to the side and fed the original fifty million dollar loan document directly into the paper shredder beside his desk.

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

The sharp mechanical blades roared to life, chopping the fifty million dollar paper into thousands of tiny white strips before dropping them into the plastic bin below.