Chapter 5: The Day He Almost Won
The investment committee met in a glass-walled conference room the next morning.
Marcus sat opposite me with an attorney and a folder twice as thick as mine.
The committee chair, Evelyn Price, placed her glasses on the table.
“Mr.
Bennett, you will not participate in today’s vote.”
My husband nodded.
“Understood.”
Marcus leaned back.
“At least someone here respects procedure.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Do not mistake caution for trust, Mr.
Hale.”
His smile weakened.
She opened the consulting agreement.
“This document claims your former wife supplied internal financial information to Bennett Capital six years ago.”
“It carries both their signatures,” Marcus said.
“I never saw it before last night,” I replied.
His attorney slid a bank statement forward.
“Three payments were made to an account in her name.”
Grace examined the statement.
“The account was closed four years ago.”
“That doesn’t erase the payments,” Marcus said.
I looked at the account number.
“That wasn’t my account.”
“Your name is printed on it.”
“My name is printed on six false transfer forms too.”
Evelyn turned to my husband.
“Did your firm pay her?”
“No.”
“Can you prove that?”
“Our records show no payment, but my signature is also on the agreement.
Until it is examined, I understand why you must investigate.”
Marcus tapped the table.
“Meanwhile, my company is being damaged by a personal vendetta.”
Evelyn closed the folder.
“The acquisition is suspended.
Mr.
Bennett will remain removed from the review, and no funds will move until the documents are verified.”
Marcus stood.
“That is all I asked for.”
“No,” I said.
“You asked them to blame me.”
He buttoned his jacket.
“If the paperwork leads to you, that isn’t my fault.”
Outside the building, two reporters waited beside the entrance.
“Did you secretly work with Bennett Capital during your marriage?” one called.
“Did your husband target Marcus Hale’s company as revenge?”
My husband guided me toward the car.
“Don’t answer.”
Marcus stopped beneath the cameras.
“I only want the truth,” he said.
“Whatever that truth costs me.”
I turned around.
“You practiced that line, didn’t you?”
His smile disappeared for half a second.
At home, Lily sat at the kitchen table with her grandmother Eleanor.
She pushed away a plate of apple slices when I entered.
“Mommy, did you take somebody’s money?”
I stopped in the doorway.
“Who said that?”
“A boy’s mommy showed him your picture.”
My handbag slipped from my fingers.
My knees touched the floor before I realized I was falling.
Lily climbed down and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Don’t cry, Mommy.”
My husband knelt beside us.
“Your mother didn’t take anything.”
“Then why did the lady say she did?”
“Because sometimes adults repeat lies before they know the truth.”
Lily touched my cheek.
“I know you’re good.”
My breath broke.
My husband took both of us into his arms and waited until I could speak.
“I should have told you,” I whispered.
“Told me what?”
“Before the divorce, Marcus said he would ruin my credit and make people believe I had taken money.
I kept the email, then deleted it because I was ashamed.”
My husband held my face between his hands.
“You never have to hide fear from me.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was weak.”
“I don’t need you to be unafraid.
I need you to let me stand beside you.”
Eleanor placed her old phone on the table.
“I may have what you deleted.”
I wiped my eyes.
“How?”
“Marcus sent messages through the family account.
They synchronized to this phone.”
Grace arrived twenty minutes later and connected it to her laptop.
“There are hundreds of files,” she said.
Eleanor pointed to a folder.
“Open the week before the divorce.”
An audio message began playing.
Chloe’s voice filled the kitchen.
May you like
“I signed her name like you asked, Marcus.
Now tell me where you moved the rest of the money.”
