Chapter 14 - THE RESERVE
The reserve account sat in the Cayman Islands.
Of course it did.
Owned by Bellmere.
Funded by Morgan Events.
Julian called it risk protection.
Prosecutors called it something else later.
We froze it through emergency court action.
$4.9 million recoverable.
Enough.
Payroll would clear.
The company would live.
For the first time in weeks, I breathed.
Then Julian came to my office.
Security tried to stop him.
I let him in.
He looked exhausted.
“Congratulations.”
“On?”
“Saving the company.”
“Thank you.”
He laughed.
“You think you won.”
“No.”
“I think payroll clears Friday.”
That answer bothered him.
He wanted a personal fight.
I had one.
Just not the one he expected.
He sat.
“Chloe wants to settle.”
“I’m sure.”
“She’ll resign.”
“Good.”
“She’ll repay some money.”
“All.”
“She doesn’t have all.”
“Then she can owe it.”
His jaw tightened.
“She’s pregnant.”
“So?”
“She needs stability.”
I stared.
“Did I get stability?”
He looked away.
Then.
“The baby is mine.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to be there.”
“Wonderful.”
He flinched.
I had sounded sincere.
That hurt him more.
Then I asked.
“Why Rachel?”
He closed his eyes.
“Don’t.”
“Why Chloe?”
“Claire.”
“Why Nina?”
His eyes opened.
He froze.
I had guessed.
That was the best part.
“Nina?”
I smiled without humor.
“There is a Nina.”
He said nothing.
I laughed.
“Wow.”
He had another affair.
Human beings are occasionally too ridiculous for fiction.
I did not even ask who.
I stood.
“Get out.”
He stood too.
Then he whispered.
“I loved you.”
I looked at him.
“I think you loved being married to me.”
“That’s not the same.”
He left.
Ten minutes later, federal agents entered the building.
They had warrants.
For Julian.
Chloe.
Mark.
And my father.
May you like
Dad was being investigated for the original trust theft.
