Chapter 19 - The First Warning
Claire called the unknown number.
For the first time, someone answered.
A woman’s voice.
“Hello, Claire.”
Claire recognized it immediately.
Rosa.
The housekeeper.
“Why hide your number?”
“Because I needed my job long enough to help you.”
Claire stepped into the empty hallway.
“You sent the photo of the forged document?”
“Yes.”
“How did you get it?”
Rosa was quiet for a moment.
“My husband worked for Cole Holdings for nineteen years. He was laid off last month. He found financial files being thrown away at one of the warehouses. He brought them home because he thought they might prove the company was moving money before layoffs.”
Claire leaned against the wall.
“One of those files had my name.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you go to police?”
“We didn’t know what was real. Then I heard Mrs. Cole talking about your wedding. I understood enough.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Thank you.”
Rosa’s voice softened. “I’m sorry about your wedding.”
“So am I.”
After the call, Claire found Ethan sitting alone in the ballroom.
Workers were removing centerpieces.
The cake remained untouched.
Three hundred chairs sat empty.
He looked at her stained dress.
“I always imagined this room differently at the end of tonight.”
Claire sat two chairs away.
“So did I.”
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Ethan said, “I thought keeping the worst parts from you until I had proof was protecting you.”
“I know.”
“That doesn’t excuse it.”
“No.”
“I’m going to testify about everything I knew.”
Claire nodded.
“And I’m resigning from the family company.”
She looked at him.
“That’s your decision.”
“I want you to know I’m not doing it to win you back.”
“Good.”
He almost smiled.
Then his eyes filled.
“Do you think there’s any future for us?”
Claire looked around at the room that should have held their first dance.
“I think there might be a future where we both become people who tell the truth before it’s convenient.”
“That’s not a yes.”
“No.”
“It’s not a no.”
“No.”
He nodded.
That was all she could give him.
As Claire stood to leave, Mia rushed into the ballroom holding her phone.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“You need to see the news.”
A headline filled the screen.
COLE HOLDINGS BOARD ORDERS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION; CEO RICHARD COLE STEPS ASIDE.
Under it was another line.
Anonymous investor offers emergency financing.
May you like
Claire stared.
The investor’s name was Paul Mercer.
