Chapter 5 - THE MORNING THE MONEY STOPPED
At 7:58 the next morning, Preston Whitmore walked into his father’s office.
Harold Whitmore was already shouting.
“What did you do?”
Preston closed the door.
“This can be fixed.”
Harold threw a printed email across the desk.
“Saint Claire Capital froze our revolving credit facility.”
Preston picked up the paper.
His younger brother Grant stood near the window.
“The construction division can’t make payroll Friday if this holds.”
Preston looked between them.
“It is temporary.”
Harold slammed his palm against the desk.
“You allowed your mistress to assault Raymond Saint Claire’s niece inside a hospital controlled by Raymond Saint Claire.”
Preston’s face hardened.
“Emily never told me she owned part of the trust.”
Harold stared at him.
“I told you before the wedding not to underestimate that woman.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew.”
Preston’s eyes widened.
“You knew she had forty-eight percent?”
“I knew Eleanor Saint Claire left her daughter’s share to Emily.”
“You let me think the hospital was ours.”
Harold leaned back.
“You enjoyed thinking it.”
Grant looked toward Preston.
“Did you know about Vanessa’s vendor contracts?”
Harold’s eyes moved instantly toward his eldest son.
Preston said nothing.
Grant swore under his breath.
Harold slowly stood.
“How much?”
“It isn’t what you think.”
“How much?”
“Eight or nine.”
“Million?”
Preston looked away.
Harold closed his eyes.
Grant whispered.
“Oh, God.”
Preston stepped forward.
“The money was moving into expansion projects.”
“Through Vanessa’s company?”
“It was a consulting structure.”
Harold stared at him.
“You idiot.”
“Don’t talk to me like that.”
“You put your mistress on foundation contracts?”
“She had legitimate services.”
“Did she?”
Harold leaned across the desk.
“Or did you?”
Preston’s face changed.
Harold saw the answer.
“You used charity money.”
“No.”
“You used charity money to hide something.”
Preston said nothing.
Grant turned.
“I’m calling outside counsel.”
Preston grabbed his arm.
“You’re calling nobody.”
Grant pulled free.
“If Raymond audits us, this becomes criminal.”
“It won’t.”
“How do you know?”
Preston looked at his father.
“Because Emily won’t let him destroy the Whitmores.”
Harold stared at him.
“What makes you think that?”
“She still loves me.”
Grant almost laughed.
Harold did not.
“Son.”
His voice became unusually quiet.
“Yesterday your pregnant wife watched you stand beside another woman while that woman kicked her.”
Preston’s jaw tightened.
Harold continued.
“Whatever Emily felt for you before yesterday, you should not assume it survived.”
Preston’s phone buzzed.
He looked down.
A message from Emily’s attorney.
PETITION FOR LEGAL SEPARATION FILED.
Another message appeared.
NOTICE OF EMERGENCY TRUST MEETING.
Then a third.
ACCESS TO SAINT CLAIRE FOUNDATION ACCOUNTS SUSPENDED.
Preston’s face turned pale.
Grant saw the screen.
“What?”
Preston did not answer.
Harold sat down slowly.
“She moved.”
Preston looked at him.
Harold stared through the window at the city.
“You thought quiet meant weak.”
May you like
He shook his head.
“That was always your problem.”
