Chapter 14 - Someone Else Wanted Ethan Destroyed
The sender was identified through a security camera outside Daniel’s office. He was a gray-haired man named Harold Price, the former chief financial officer of Cole Properties.
Harold agreed to meet Claire in a public library on the west side. He arrived carrying a canvas briefcase and an expression of permanent disappointment.
“Ethan fired me last year,” he said. “He said I was resistant to growth.”
“Why did he really fire you?”
“I refused to approve transfers between projects.”
Harold opened the briefcase. “He was using deposits from a development that hadn’t broken ground to cover debts on another project. I told him it was illegal.”
“And he dismissed you.”
“He dismissed me, erased my access, and told the board I had resigned.”
He placed a flash drive on the table.
“These are copies of the ledgers, emails, and payment instructions.”
Claire did not touch it immediately.
“Why give this to me?”
“Because the board ignored me when I warned them. Because the lenders deserve to know. And because I want Ethan to understand that people remember what he does.”
“If this becomes public, employees could lose their jobs.”
Harold nodded. “That is the part no one thinks about when they want revenge.”
Claire took the drive. “I’m not interested in revenge.”
“Everyone says that before they open the files.”
At Lucas’s office, Priya examined the records. They confirmed the worst: Ethan had transferred funds between projects, overstated assets, and used company money to pay personal obligations. Some transactions appeared to have been directed by Vanessa.
“This is enough for a formal investigation,” Priya said.
“Can we protect the employees?” Claire asked.
“We can separate the operating accounts from the personal accounts and alert the board.”
“Without giving Ethan time to destroy evidence.”
Lucas nodded. “We can seek an emergency court order.”
Claire looked at him. “If we do that, the company may collapse.”
“It may collapse anyway.”
“There are people who have done nothing wrong.”
“I know.”
“I want their wages protected. Their health coverage. Their contracts.”
Lucas studied her for a moment. “You are still trying to save people who work for the man who betrayed you.”
“They are not him.”
Together, they prepared a confidential packet for the board and the lender. Claire insisted on including a plan to preserve the company’s legitimate operations while the fraudulent accounts were frozen.
That night, Ethan confronted her in the driveway.
He had followed her from Lucas’s office.
“You met with him again.”
Claire stepped out of the car. “I met with my attorney.”
“Lucas is not your attorney.”
“He is now.”
Ethan’s face hardened. “You’re planning to leave me.”
“I’m planning to protect myself.”
“From me?”
“From the consequences of your decisions.”
“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I know what you did.”
He moved closer. “If you go to the board, you destroy the company.”
“You used the company to destroy yourself.”
“People will suffer.”
“Then help protect them.”
“By turning against me?”
“You turned against all of us when you used our money to buy your mistress a bracelet.”
His face went white.
Claire walked toward the house.
“You’re going to regret this,” he said behind her.
She stopped at the door.
“That is what your mother said.”
“You think Lucas will save you?”
“No. I’m saving myself.”
She entered and locked the door.
Minutes later, Lucas called.
“The board has received the packet,” he said. “They’re calling an emergency meeting.”
“How soon?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
May you like
Claire looked at the living room where she had first seen Ethan kiss Vanessa.
The house was quiet now, but the silence no longer felt empty. It felt like the pause before a structure finally gave way.
