Chapter 9 - A RING, A BABY, AND A BANK ACCOUNT|
Savannah came to my office on Monday.
I almost didn't recognize her without the polished smile and designer maternity dress.
She wore jeans, a loose sweater, and no makeup. Her eyes were swollen.
“Can I come in?”
I looked at the receptionist.
Then back at Savannah.
“Five minutes.”
She entered and sat across from my desk.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Finally, she placed a folder on the table.
“I brought the records.”
I didn't touch them.
“You should give those to your attorney.”
“I don't trust Grant's attorney.”
“Then find your own.”
She nodded.
“I already did.”
That surprised me.
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you here?”
She stared at the folder.
“Because I think he lied about everything.”
I waited.
“He told me the company was yours only on paper. He said you had inherited the shares but never wanted to be involved. He said you were planning to leave him anyway.”
I almost smiled.
“That's a convenient story.”
“He said the marriage was finished years ago.”
“It wasn't finished until I discovered what he was doing.”
She looked down.
“I know.”
I leaned back.
“Why did you accept the ring?”
Her hand moved instinctively toward it.
“Because I loved him.”
“And now?”
She didn't answer.
I noticed the ring was gone.
“Did you return it?”
“No. I gave it to my attorney.”
“Why?”
“Because Grant bought it with money from one of the consulting payments.”
I stared at her.
She opened the folder.
Inside were bank statements and a copy of the purchase receipt.
The diamond had cost more than ninety thousand dollars.
The payment came from Cole Strategic's account.
I looked at her.
“Did you know?”
“Not when he gave it to me.”
“And when did you find out?”
“Last week.”
I studied her face.
She looked genuinely ashamed.
But shame didn't erase the money.
“Savannah, you received payments for services you say you never performed.”
“I know.”
“That's something you need to explain to investigators.”
“I will.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
She took a breath.
“Because Grant asked me to sign a statement saying the money was legitimate. He said it would protect both of us.”
I felt a chill.
“What did you do?”
“I refused.”
For the first time, I believed she might be telling me the truth.
Then she said, “He told me if I didn't cooperate, he would make sure I lost the baby.”
I stood.
“What?”
“He said he could prove I was unstable. He said he knew people who could make the custody process impossible.”
I walked around my desk.
“Has he threatened you physically?”
“No. But he has been calling constantly. He keeps saying I owe him.”
I picked up my phone.
“I'm going to give you the number of a family attorney and a support service. You need independent advice, and you need to keep every message he sends.”
She nodded.
Then she looked at me.
“I know I don't deserve your help.”
“You're right. You don't get to ask me to forgive you.”
Her eyes filled.
“But the baby didn't choose any of this.”
I looked at her stomach.
“No,” I said quietly. “The baby didn't.”
After she left, I opened the folder.
The final bank statement showed a transfer made two days earlier.
The amount was large enough to change everything.
May you like
And the recipient wasn't Savannah.
It was an account registered in Grant's name.
