Chapter 7 - TWENTY-SIX MILLION
Thomas Reed arrived at Maya’s office ninety minutes later carrying a laptop and looking like a man who hadn’t slept in a week.
He refused coffee.
He refused water.
He simply sat down and opened the computer.
“I’ve worked for the Wexlers for thirteen years.”
His voice shook.
“I kept telling myself things would stabilize.”
“What things?” I asked.
Thomas looked at me.
“Everything.”
He showed us transfers.
Dozens of them.
Money moving from hotel operating accounts into consulting companies.
Consulting companies moving money into family-controlled entities.
Family entities paying for cars, vacations, renovations, private school tuition, and Brenda’s country-club membership.
Derek had repeatedly told investors those expenses were funded by personal wealth.
They weren’t.
The company had become the family wallet.
“Why come to me?” I asked.
Thomas swallowed.
“Because I saw what they did to Lauren.”
I froze.
“You knew her?”
“I was the junior accountant.”
He looked ashamed.
“She found irregularities.”
“She asked questions.”
“Three weeks later, everyone was told she had stolen company information.”
Maya leaned forward.
“Did she?”
“No.”
“Did Derek know that?”
“Yes.”
My stomach twisted.
Thomas opened another folder.
“Last month Derek told me he was getting married.”
“He said things would be fixed after the wedding.”
I could barely speak.
“What exactly did he say?”
Thomas stared at the screen.
“He said you had access to Bennett money.”
I felt heat rise behind my eyes.
Not tears.
Rage.
“He said once you signed the guarantee, Northstar would refinance everything.”
Maya and I exchanged a look.
Derek still didn’t know who controlled Northstar.
He only knew Northstar respected Bennett family investments.
That connection had been enough.
“So the marriage was financing,” I whispered.
Thomas didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
My phone lit up.
DEREK CALLING.
This time, I answered.
“Hello.”
“Finally.”
His voice was furious beneath forced calm.
“Where are you?”
“With my lawyer.”
Silence.
Then he laughed.
“You’re really doing this?”
“You forged my signature.”
“I didn’t forge anything.”
“Interesting.”
“Because I never said which document.”
Another silence.
I could almost hear his mind working.
Then his voice changed.
“Chloe.”
Soft.
Warm.
The voice of the man I thought I married.
“Come home.”
“We can fix this.”
“No.”
“You’re emotional.”
“No.”
“You’ve had a stressful morning.”
“I was assaulted with a dirty towel and locked in a room.”
“Don’t use ridiculous words.”
I stared through Maya’s office window.
“I’m going to ask you one question.”
“What?”
“Why did you marry me?”
He hesitated for one second too long.
“That’s insulting.”
“Answer.”
“Because I love you.”
I looked at Thomas.
He slowly shook his head.
Then Derek added the sentence that ended whatever remained of my marriage.
“And because husband and wife are supposed to share everything.”
There it was.
Everything.
My name.
My inheritance.
My signature.
My future.
I replied calmly.
“Then you’re going to love what I’m sharing with you now.”
“What?”
“Your company is under formal lender review effective immediately.”
He laughed.
“You can’t do that.”
“No.”
I looked at Maya.
May you like
Then at the Northstar documents.
“But I can.”
