Chapter 3 - THE RED PORSCHE
David called it a mistake.
Then he called it a loan.
Then he called Elena a liar.
His explanation changed three times in less than five minutes.
Vincent listened to every version.
When David finished, Vincent asked one question.
“Which story should I remember?”
David said nothing.
Mom pulled me closer.
I could feel her heart beating through her blouse.
She whispered into my hair.
“We should go.”
But Elena stopped her.
“Claire.”
Mom turned.
“Did Mr. Sterling ever ask you to sign anything about delayed wages?”
“No.”
“Did you agree in writing to work without pay?”
“No.”
“Did he ever give you a payment schedule?”
Mom shook her head.
“He kept saying Friday.”
Elena’s expression softened.
“Which Friday?”
Mom gave a tired laugh.
“All of them.”
Tina looked away.
One of the cooks cursed under his breath.
Vincent walked toward the window.
The Porsche gleamed beneath the afternoon sun.
I followed him.
“That’s the car.”
“I figured.”
“It’s very red.”
“It certainly is.”
“Mom says red cars get more tickets.”
Vincent looked down at me.
“That might be the least of David Sterling’s problems.”
Behind us, David took out his phone.
Vincent’s bodyguard immediately noticed.
“Who are you calling?”
“My attorney.”
Vincent nodded.
“Good.”
David blinked.
“You’re not worried?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because lawyers write things down.”
That made Elena smile.
David’s attorney arrived forty minutes later.
His name was Samuel Crowe.
He wore a gray suit and looked exhausted before anybody spoke to him.
He examined the work log.
He reviewed the transfer.
Then he whispered something into David’s ear.
David’s expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
Crowe whispered again.
David shoved his chair backward.
“No.”
Crowe lowered his voice.
“You need to listen to me.”
“This is my restaurant.”
Crowe glanced toward Vincent.
“Not exactly.”
The room went quiet again.
Mom looked at me.
I looked at Vincent.
David stared at his attorney.
“What does that mean?”
Crowe slowly opened his briefcase.
He removed a yellowed contract.
“Sterling’s Bistro was financed thirteen years ago through Kane Commercial Capital.”
Vincent’s expression didn’t change.
David’s did.
Crowe continued.
“The financing agreement contains a fraud clause.”
David stood completely still.
“If company funds were knowingly diverted from protected payroll accounts, the lender can demand immediate forensic review.”
Vincent looked toward Elena.
“Start it.”
David slammed his hand on the table.
“You can’t.”
Vincent turned.
“You used employee payroll to buy a Porsche.”
“That doesn’t mean you can take my business.”
Vincent’s eyes became cold.
“I didn’t say anything about taking it.”
David stared at him.
“Then what do you want?”
Vincent looked at me.
Then at the purple stars Mom had allowed me to draw on her work log.
“I want to know how many children in this city missed dinner because you wanted people to think you were rich.”
Nobody answered.
Then one of the kitchen doors opened.
An elderly man stepped out.
He had been washing dishes in the back.
His name was Walter.
He removed his apron.
“There’s something you should see.”
David’s head snapped toward him.
“Walter.”
The old man ignored him.
He looked directly at Vincent.
“It isn’t just payroll.”
David went pale.
Walter reached into his apron and placed a tiny silver key on the table.
May you like
“There’s another set of books.”
And David Sterling stopped pretending he wasn’t afraid.
