Chapter 3 - Black Cards Declined: Flynn Vance Gets Humiliated At Fifth Avenue
At 10:30 AM the next morning, Flynn Vance walked into the flagship Cartier salon
on Fifth Avenue, his arm hooked around Selena’s waist.
Selena was glowing with triumph, wearing a white silk trench coat and browsing
the high-jewelry vitrines like she already owned every diamond in the building.
“Pick whatever you like, darling,” Flynn said generously, waving off the store
manager who had rushed over with flutes of vintage champagne. “A diamond collar,
perhaps the emerald suite. Consider it an early push present for our son.”
“Oh, Flynn, you spoil me,” Selena purred, leaning in to kiss his cheek while
deliberately angling her pregnant belly toward the mirror. “I was thinking of
the Panther necklace with the pave diamonds. It’s only four hundred and twenty
thousand.”
“Wrap it up,” Flynn instructed the sales director smoothly, pulling his
Centurion Black Card from his platinum wallet and tossing it onto the velvet
presentation tray.
The director bowed respectfully, took the card, and swiped it through the
terminal.
A sharp electronic beep sounded.
The director frowned, swiped it again, and typed a code into the register.
Another buzz echoed through the quiet showroom.
“Is there a problem?” Flynn asked, his brow furrowing with mild annoyance. “Your
machine must be faulty.”
“My apologies, Mr. Vance,” the manager murmured politely, stepping over. “The
system displays code 04—Transaction Restricted: Issuer Directive. The card has
been flagged as frozen by the primary trustee.”
Selena’s smile froze. “What does that mean?”
“It means my idiot accounting department forgot to authorize the quarterly
travel budget,” Flynn scoffed, pulling out his Vance Global corporate executive
mastercard. “Use this one.”
The manager swiped the second card.
Transaction Denied: Corporate Account Suspended.
Flynn’s face turned an ugly shade of crimson. “That is impossible. I am the
Chief Executive Officer of Vance Holdings!”
“Mr. Vance,” the manager whispered discreetly, showing him the terminal screen.
“The account isn't just declined. We’ve received an automated system alert
stating that all signature authority for Flynn Vance has been revoked under
court order filed at 4:12 AM in New York County Supreme Court.”
Before Flynn could scream at the staff, his smartphone buzzed violently in his
pocket. It was his Chief Financial Officer, Arthur Pendelton.
Flynn ripped the phone to his ear, stepping away from the jewelry counter.
“Arthur! Why the hell are my executive cards declining at Cartier?”
“Flynn! Where have you been?” Arthur yelled, his voice cracking in panic. “All
hell has broken loose! The Master Trust just issued an emergency veto! Our
central accounts are locked, the bank has frozen our credit lines, and the
security team at 740 Park Avenue just threw all your luggage onto the sidewalk!”
Flynn’s heart hammered against his ribs. “What are you talking about? Who
authorized that?”
“Your wife, Flynn!” Arthur shouted. “Mabel signed the freeze orders from her
May you like
hospital bed three hours ago! She’s invoking the Trustee Sovereignty Clause—and
Flynn… she’s taking the entire company with her!”
