Chapter 6 - The Missing Lawyer
The ballroom looked like the aftermath of a storm nobody had physically felt.
Guests clustered in nervous groups. The band packed instruments in silence. Staff whispered near the kitchen doors.
Elena found her maid of honor, Sophie, holding two phones.
“Where’s Walter?”
Sophie shook her head. “He got a call, went through the east corridor, and vanished.”
Nathan returned from the lobby. “My mother’s driver says she took a rideshare.”
“She stole my laptop,” Elena said.
“I know.”
“Do you?” She turned on him. “Because tonight I’ve discovered your mother forged my signature, tried to take my company, lied about your ex, and stole confidential business files.”
Nathan flinched. “I’m calling the police.”
“Good.”
He pulled out his phone.
Elena expected him to hesitate.
He did not.
That surprised her.
While Nathan spoke to emergency dispatch, Sophie took Elena aside.
“You need to see this.”
She handed over a phone.
A new email had arrived in Elena’s inbox from Walter.
Subject: IF I LEAVE BEFORE WE SPEAK
Elena opened it.
There was only one sentence.
Do not trust the hotel contract amount you were shown.
Attached was a spreadsheet.
Elena’s throat tightened.
The first column listed expected revenue from the hotel deal.
The second listed an alternate payment schedule she had never seen.
The difference was $4.8 million.
Nathan ended his call and saw her face. “What is it?”
She showed him.
He frowned. “That can’t be right.”
“You knew the number I gave you.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever tell anyone else?”
“My mother. Nobody else.”
Claire appeared beside them. “There is someone else who knew.”
Elena turned.
Claire nodded toward the ballroom entrance.
A tall man in a charcoal suit had just walked in.
Elena recognized him immediately.
Marcus Dean, her chief financial officer.
He was supposed to be in Chicago with his sick father.
He walked toward Elena with a grim expression.
“Elena, we have to talk in private.”
She held up Walter’s spreadsheet.
“Did you create this?”
Marcus stopped.
His face answered before he did.
Nathan stepped forward. “You did.”
Marcus looked at Elena. “I can explain.”
Elena felt sick of that sentence.
“Then start.”
Marcus glanced at the guests.
“Not here.”
“Here is fine.”
May you like
He lowered his voice.
“The hotel contract you signed is not the contract the hotel received.”
