Chapter 4 - The Poisoned Reputation
Andrew grabbed the remote and turned on the television screen mounted on the hotel wall.
A live news broadcast from Manhattan Society Weekly filled the screen. Standing outside the gate of Andrew’s Hamptons estate was Sophia, wearing an oversized sweater, clutching a tissue, looking tearful and deeply distraught in front of four news cameras.
"I tried to protect little Valerie," Sophia whimpered into the microphones, squeezing out fake tears. "My husband, Andrew Salgado, has been suffering from extreme work-related paranoia and substance abuse. Tonight, he had a violent episode, destroyed our home, and abducted Valerie in the middle of the night! I am pleading with the police to bring my sweet stepdaughter home safely!"
Andrew’s phone began ringing incessantly. Calls from his board of directors, corporate PR teams, and high-society associates flooded his screen.
"That manipulative snake," Andrew hissed, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the desk edge.
"She’s trying to seize the narrative early, Mr. Salgado," Marcus advised over the phone. "She knows if she paints you as an unstable, abusive addict, any evidence of child abuse you bring forward later will be spun as a fake retaliation story manufactured by a crazy man."
"Call Sarah Sterling," Andrew commanded coldly.
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Sarah Sterling was the most feared family law attorney in New York—a woman who specialized in exposing high-society monsters.
"I’m already on it, Andrew," Sarah’s sharp voice cut in on a three-way call. "I saw the broadcast. Meet me at Mount Sinai Hospital in thirty minutes with Valerie. We need an official, court-admissible forensic medical exam before Sophia can spin another lie."
