Chapter 3 - The Security Guards Weren’t There for the Diamond
I stared at the alert on my phone.
Unauthorized remote access attempt.
Jason saw that I understood.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked, “What are you trying to access?”
“Nothing.”
My phone vibrated again.
SECOND FAILED ATTEMPT.
“Jason.”
He slipped his phone into his pocket.
“You've already humiliated me enough.”
“This isn't humiliation. This is an access attempt on a corporate server.”
“I still work there.”
“No. Your privileges were suspended.”
His eyes flashed.
“Because you engineered it.”
I didn't answer.
The board's decision had been unanimous.
That included two directors Jason himself had appointed.
Lily stepped away from him.
“What exactly is happening?”
Jason turned on her.
“Stay out of it.”
She stared at him.
“You brought me here to buy a million-dollar ring using your ex-wife's credit.”
His face hardened.
“That's not what happened.”
“Then explain it.”
“I don't owe you an explanation in front of her.”
Lily laughed once, without humor.
“You owe me several.”
The mall manager approached Daniel and spoke quietly.
Daniel nodded.
Then looked toward Jason.
“Mr. Whitmore, corporate counsel has requested retrieval of the briefcase from the vehicle.”
Jason's head snapped around.
“No.”
That single word changed the atmosphere.
I studied him.
“What is in it?”
“Business documents.”
“Then why are you worried?”
“Because they're confidential.”
“They belong to the company.”
“They belong to me.”
“No,” I said. “They don't.”
His hands curled into fists at his sides.
For six years, Jason had relied on charm first and anger second.
Charm wasn't working.
So anger arrived.
But the security officers remained calm.
Nobody touched him.
Nobody raised a voice.
The mall manager simply said, “Sir, the vehicle is registered to Carter Meridian Holdings. The company has authorized us to release the briefcase to its legal representative.”
Jason looked at me.
“You called them.”
“My attorney did.”
“You've been setting this up all day.”
“Jason, I didn't make you put something suspicious in a car you don't own.”
That silenced him.
Lily slowly lowered herself into a nearby chair.
Her face looked pale.
I felt an unexpected flicker of concern.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“I'm fine.”
Jason didn't ask.
That told me more about him than anything else that afternoon.
Daniel brought Lily a glass of water.
She thanked him.
Jason continued staring at the entrance.
Five minutes later, my attorney arrived.
Rachel Bennett had represented my family for nearly a decade. She was forty-two, calm under pressure, and capable of making terrifying statements sound like weather reports.
She carried the black leather briefcase.
Jason's face changed.
“Give me that.”
Rachel stopped.
“Hello, Jason.”
“That is mine.”
“It was found inside a company-owned vehicle.”
“The contents are private.”
“Then we can establish that appropriately.”
Jason stepped forward.
A security officer moved slightly between them.
Rachel didn't react.
“Jason, nobody is opening anything here.”
He stared at the briefcase.
“Good.”
“It will be transferred to independent counsel.”
His shoulders stiffened.
“Why?”
“Because the audit committee requested it.”
“On whose authority?”
“The board's.”
Jason looked at me.
Again.
Always me.
As if every consequence in his life had to be caused by a woman rather than his own decisions.
I said, “Stop looking at me.”
“You're enjoying this.”
“No.”
And I meant it.
I had imagined divorce would bring relief.
Instead, standing in that jewelry boutique, I felt exhausted.
“I wanted my marriage to work,” I told him. “You chose something else.”
Jason's expression flickered.
For a second, the anger disappeared.
Then Lily spoke.
“What audit?”
Nobody answered immediately.
She looked at Jason.
“What audit, Jason?”
“Routine corporate nonsense.”
Rachel glanced at me.
I nodded.
Lily deserved at least the basic truth.
Rachel said, “There are questions about several transfers from corporate accounts.”
Lily frowned.
“What kind of transfers?”
Jason interrupted.
“Don't discuss company business with her.”
Rachel continued calmly.
“Approximately $4.8 million moved through consulting entities over eighteen months.”
Lily's mouth fell open.
Jason went white.
I hadn't known the total.
Rachel had told me the preliminary investigation involved “material irregularities.”
Not $4.8 million.
“Four point eight?” I repeated.
Rachel nodded.
Jason pointed at her.
“This is exactly why lawyers shouldn't speak before audits are complete.”
“For once,” Rachel said, “I agree with you.”
That surprised him.
“The transfers haven't been characterized as misconduct,” she continued. “They're being investigated.”
Jason relaxed slightly.
Then Rachel added, “However, three recipient companies appear to have no employees, no operating offices, and no documented deliverables.”
His relief disappeared.
Lily stared at him.
“What companies?”
Jason didn't answer.
Rachel opened her tablet.
“Northline Advisory. Fairmont Procurement. LM Strategic Consulting.”
Lily froze.
I saw it.
So did Rachel.
“LM?” Lily whispered.
Jason turned toward her.
“Don't.”
Lily stood.
“What does LM stand for?”
“Nothing.”
Her breathing changed.
“Jason.”
“It doesn't stand for anything.”
Lily looked at Rachel.
“What's the registered address?”
Rachel hesitated.
“Lily—”
“Please.”
Rachel checked.
Then read an address.
Lily closed her eyes.
“Oh my God.”
“What?” I asked.
She opened them.
“That was my apartment.”
Jason said, “It was convenient.”
Lily stared at him.
“You registered a company at my apartment?”
“For consulting purposes.”
“I don't own a consulting company.”
“You signed the formation documents.”
“I signed what you told me were insurance forms!”
The boutique became silent again.
Jason's face hardened.
“You should be careful what you're implying.”
Lily stepped backward.
“No. You should.”
Her hand went to her belly.
“You put my name on a company?”
“I was protecting our future.”
“With whose money?”
He didn't answer.
Lily turned to Rachel.
“Was money transferred into it?”
Rachel's expression was careful.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“I shouldn't discuss—”
“How much?”
Rachel looked at me.
Then at Lily.
“Approximately $620,000.”
Lily's knees almost buckled.
I moved instinctively and caught her elbow.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“I didn't know.”
“I believe you.”
Jason scoffed.
“Oh, come on.”
I turned toward him.
“What?”
“Now you're friends?”
“No.”
I looked at Lily.
“We're two women who were lied to by the same man.”
Lily covered her mouth.
Jason grabbed his jacket.
“I've had enough.”
Rachel said, “Jason, you should contact your attorney.”
“I don't need your advice.”
“You do.”
He headed toward the exit.
Nobody stopped him this time.
His company property had been collected.
His access was disabled.
He was free to leave.
At the doorway, he turned.
His gaze settled on me.
“You think you've won.”
“This isn't a game.”
“It always was for you.”
“No, Jason. That's the difference between us.”
His eyes moved toward Lily.
“Are you coming?”
She stared at him.
“No.”
He blinked.
“What?”
“I said no.”
“Lily.”
“You lied about Sophia. You lied about the company. You put my name on something I didn't understand.”
“I can explain.”
“Then explain it to a lawyer.”
Jason stared at her as if she had slapped him.
Then he looked at me.
For once, neither woman moved toward him.
Jason left alone.
I thought that would be the end of the afternoon.
It wasn't.
Rachel waited until the doors closed behind him.
Then she placed the briefcase on a chair.
“Sophia.”
Her tone made my stomach tighten.
“What?”
“There is something you need to know before this goes to independent counsel.”
“What?”
Rachel lowered her voice.
“The audit team found another transfer this morning.”
“How much?”
“Not money.”
I frowned.
“Then what?”
“Equity.”
I stopped breathing for a second.
Rachel continued.
“Someone attempted to transfer a block of your voting shares.”
“That isn't possible.”
“It shouldn't be.”
“Who?”
“We don't know yet.”
Lily looked between us.
Rachel's eyes stayed on mine.
“But the authorization carried your digital signature.”
My blood went cold.
“I never signed anything.”
“I know.”
“How many shares?”
Rachel hesitated.
“Enough to change control of the company.”
The boutique suddenly seemed very quiet.
I looked toward the doors Jason had just walked through.
And for the first time that day, I understood what he'd really been planning.
Jason hadn't intended merely to leave me.
May you like
He had intended to take my company with him.
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