“Sophia, I have the documents you requested ready.”
She guided me into a glass-walled office and offered sparkling water.
“You said you wished to execute the court-authorized separation of the disputed funds. Did you bring the original orders?”
I placed the family-court order, filing confirmation, and asset-protection directive on her desk.
Eleanor put on reading glasses and carefully examined the seals before checking the information against the bank’s system.
The money included savings I had accumulated before the marriage, returns from my investments, and part of my parents’ inheritance.
I would not allow Alexander to dissipate it while attempting to build another life with Khloe.
“Everything is in order,” Eleanor said. “The accounts connected to Mr. Rivers are currently restricted. They can receive deposits, but the affected funds cannot be withdrawn.”
She lowered her voice.
“Our records also show an attempted hotel charge in Maui last night. It was declined. Several automated loan applications were submitted afterward, and those were denied as well.”
“I understand. Please transfer the portion authorized by the judge into my individual account.”
“There is eight hundred sixty-two thousand dollars in liquid funds. Your authorized share is four hundred thirty-one thousand.”
She processed the transaction.
My phone vibrated with the deposit notification.
“You also have an investment fund valued at approximately one million five hundred thousand dollars,” she continued. “It matures in two months. Early liquidation will result in a penalty.”
“Liquidate it.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Separating the assets is more important than the lost interest.”
While she processed the request, the office door opened. A security employee entered and whispered something to Eleanor.
Her expression changed.
“Please excuse me. There is a disturbance in the lobby.”
Through the glass wall, I saw a man arguing beside the teller stations.
It was Derek, Alexander’s cousin—the person who had received several suspicious transfers.
“Why is my account restricted?” he demanded. “My business has nothing to do with Alexander’s personal problems.”
Eleanor attempted to calm him.
“Sir, the bank is complying with a court directive concerning transactions routed through this account. You will need to address the matter through counsel.”
Derek knocked the copy of the notice from her hand.
“That money was a business loan. I am not leaving until you release it.”
He dropped into a chair in the lobby and continued raising his voice.
I returned to my seat and texted Mr. Vance. His reply arrived moments later.
Derek’s account is part of the financial investigation. The bank should follow its standard security procedure.
Eleanor returned, looking apologetic.
“I am sorry about the disruption.”
“Do what you need to do. Let’s complete our transaction.”
She resumed working.
“The fund liquidation has been approved. After the penalty, your authorized portion is seven hundred forty-three thousand dollars.”
The money was transferred to my account.
Combined with the liquid funds and other court-authorized proceeds, the total reached one million two hundred twenty thousand dollars.
I signed the receipts.
Eleanor glanced at her monitor.
“There was also an attempt to initiate an international transfer from Mr. Rivers’s online profile. The system blocked it automatically. He can view the balance, but he cannot move the restricted funds.”
I gathered my documents.
Outside, Manhattan glowed beneath the afternoon sun.
At that same hour in Maui, sunlight poured through the windows of the resort suite, illuminating the Pacific.
Alexander’s face was darker than a storm.
He had emptied his suitcase onto the rug. A luxury watch, a gold chain, and another limited-edition timepiece lay in front of him.
“These have to be worth at least two hundred thousand dollars,” he said. “It should be enough to pay the hotel and get us back to New York.”
Khloe sat on the sofa biting her nails.
“Who are you going to sell them to here? A tourist pawnshop?”
Alexander picked up his damaged phone and searched for luxury jewelers on the island.
An automated email from the resort appeared.
The card on file had been restricted. The resort required immediate settlement of the outstanding balance and warned that items subject to the court order could not be removed or sold.
Alexander dropped the phone.
“How did she plan all of this?”
He called the front desk.
“What right do you have to stop me from taking my own watch?”
The manager replied in a controlled tone.
“Sir, the resort received formal notice identifying certain valuables as disputed marital property. We must preserve them until the matter is resolved.”
Alexander slammed the receiver down and turned on Khloe.
“This is your fault. If you had not insisted on coming to Maui, none of this would have happened.”
“My fault?” Khloe’s voice broke. “You bought the ticket. You told me she would accept it. Now everything is collapsing, and you’re blaming me?”
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