Chapter 10 - Julian Came for the Contracts
Julian arrived at noon.
He brought Chloe.
He also brought Aunt Caroline.
Of course he did.
Witnesses.
Pressure.
An audience.
The moment I opened the door, Julian pushed past me.
“Where are the contracts?”
I blocked the hallway.
“You’re not coming inside.”
His face twisted.
“This is my wedding.”
“Yes.”
“Then give me the contracts.”
“No.”
Aunt Caroline gasped as though I had slapped him.
Chloe stood behind them looking exhausted.
Dad and Mom came to the doorway.
Julian stared at our father.
“Tell him.”
Dad hesitated.
That hesitation changed the entire room.
Julian noticed too.
“Dad?”
Dad cleared his throat.
“Michael showed us some documents.”
Julian’s face became blank.
“What documents?”
“The venue authorization.”
“The condo lease.”
Chloe turned toward Julian.
“What condo lease?”
He ignored her.
“Michael is lying.”
I held up printed copies.
“Want to try again?”
Julian looked at me with hatred.
“You went digging through my private business?”
“You submitted my name.”
“That makes it my business.”
He stepped toward me.
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“After the wedding.”
That phrase again.
After.
Always after the point when they needed my consent.
Chloe took the lease application from me.
Her face slowly changed.
“You told me Michael bought the condo.”
Julian snapped.
“He was going to.”
“I never said that.”
“You looked at the building.”
“I looked at an investment property.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
“It is not remotely the same thing.”
Chloe stared at him.
Then at me.
“You never promised us a condo?”
“No.”
She went pale.
“The Mercedes?”
“No.”
“The Bora Bora villa upgrade?”
“No.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Julian shouted.
“Stop interrogating me.”
Chloe looked at him.
“Did you forge his signature?”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“I handled paperwork.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Aunt Caroline suddenly spoke.
“Everyone is stressed.”
“Let’s calm down.”
I looked at her.
“Yesterday you laughed when I was called a loser.”
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Good.
For once, embarrassment belonged to someone else.
Julian turned toward our father.
“The estate needs payment by three.”
Dad said nothing.
“Dad.”
Finally, Dad replied.
“I don’t have fifty thousand dollars.”
Julian stared.
“You said family would handle it.”
Dad’s shoulders dropped.
“I thought Michael would.”
There it was.
May you like
The entire wedding in six words.
Everyone thought Michael would.
