Chapter 2 - The Seventeen Transfers
“Seventeen what?”
My voice sounded strangely calm.
Martin Hale looked toward Lily and immediately lowered the folder.
“Not here.”
That was all he needed to say.
Whatever he had discovered was serious enough that my daughter should not hear it.
I turned to Vanessa.
“Is the conference room empty?”
She nodded.
Ethan stepped forward.
“Claire, this is ridiculous.”
Martin positioned himself between us.
“Mr. Grayson, I strongly recommend you contact counsel before participating in this conversation.”
Ethan stared at him.
“This is my company.”
Martin gave him a measured look.
“Then you should understand exactly how serious that recommendation is.”
Natalie quietly moved toward the elevator.
“Where are you going?” Ethan demanded.
She froze.
The dynamic between them changed instantly.
Five minutes earlier, they had walked out of his office together.
Now Natalie seemed desperate to separate herself from him.
“I have a meeting downstairs.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I’m leaving, Ethan.”
She pressed the elevator button.
Ethan reached for her arm but stopped when he noticed Martin watching.
The doors opened.
Natalie disappeared inside.
That single moment told me something important.
Whatever existed between Ethan and Natalie, loyalty apparently wasn't part of it.
I called our longtime nanny, Rosa, who happened to be only fifteen minutes away. Until she arrived, I sat with Lily near the windows.
“Daddy seemed mad,” she whispered.
“He’s having a difficult day.”
“Did I do something?”
My heart cracked.
I pulled her close.
“Absolutely not.”
I refused to make Ethan’s betrayal her burden.
When Rosa arrived, Lily handed me the paper lunch bag.
“Give Daddy his cake anyway.”
I nearly cried.
“I will.”
She hugged me before leaving.
The elevator doors closed.
Only then did I enter the conference room.
Daniel had joined by video.
Martin placed seventeen bank records across the table.
The transfers totaled $2.4 million.
All originated from Grayson Capital accounts.
All went to entities I had never heard of.
Northstar Advisory.
Lakeview Strategic Partners.
Crown Holdings Management.
“Who owns them?” I asked.
Martin looked at Ethan.
“That is precisely what we're determining.”
Ethan folded his arms.
“Consultants.”
“For what?”
“Business.”
I almost laughed.
“That isn't an answer.”
“It’s the only answer you’re entitled to.”
Daniel spoke from the screen.
“Actually, under the covenants attached to our financing agreement, Grayson Capital is required to disclose related-party transactions exceeding fifty thousand dollars.”
Ethan turned toward the monitor.
“Stay out of my marriage.”
Daniel’s expression remained motionless.
“This isn't your marriage. This is twelve million dollars of Mercer capital.”
Martin slid another document toward me.
One company receiving payments listed a registered agent.
Natalie Price.
My stomach dropped.
I looked at Ethan.
“Two point four million dollars?”
“It isn't what you think.”
I hated that sentence.
People only said it when something was exactly what you thought.
“Explain it.”
Ethan leaned against the glass wall.
“I was creating an acquisition vehicle.”
“Without telling your lenders?”
“It was confidential.”
“Without telling your board?”
Silence.
Martin answered for him.
“The board apparently did not authorize these transfers.”
Ethan glared at him.
I stared at the documents.
For years I had trusted Ethan with things far more valuable than money.
My home.
My future.
My daughter.
Then I noticed something strange.
Several transfers occurred on dates Ethan had supposedly been traveling.
Boston.
Dallas.
Seattle.
Except the recipient accounts were connected to Chicago properties.
“Daniel,” I said slowly, “keep everything frozen.”
Ethan slammed his palm onto the table.
“You cannot do this!”
I stood.
“You told me I had no power here.”
His breathing changed.
I had seen Ethan angry many times.
This was different.
This was fear.
Martin collected the documents.
“We're requesting a forensic accounting.”
“No.”
Ethan’s answer came instantly.
Daniel almost smiled.
“You don't get to refuse.”
Ethan turned toward me.
“Claire, listen to me. If you push this, you will destroy everything we built.”
I stared at him.
“We?”
For years, Ethan had told every journalist and investor that Grayson Capital was his creation.
Now that it was threatened, suddenly it belonged to both of us.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Mrs. Grayson?”
“Yes?”
“My name is Rebecca Sloan. I was chief financial controller at Grayson Capital until six months ago.”
I looked at Ethan.
His expression changed.
Rebecca continued.
“I heard the Mercer facility was suspended.”
“How?”
“People are already talking.”
She hesitated.
“Mrs. Grayson, I tried to warn your husband about those transfers.”
Ethan moved toward me.
I stepped away.
“What happened?”
“He fired me.”
“Why?”
Rebecca took a breath.
“Because I discovered who actually owns Northstar Advisory.”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who?”
“It isn't Natalie.”
Across the room, Ethan closed his eyes.
Rebecca continued.
“The beneficial owner is Ethan.”
I stared at my husband.
But Rebecca wasn't finished.
“And Mrs. Grayson?”
“Yes?”
“You need to ask him about the apartment on Lake Shore Drive.”
The line went silent.
I slowly lowered the phone.
Ethan looked as though the floor had disappeared beneath him.
I thought I had discovered an affair.
Instead, I had found a hidden company, millions in transfers, and an apartment I had never seen.
May you like
But the worst discovery was waiting inside that apartment.
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