Chapter 11 - THE WOMAN ETHAN NEVER UNDERSTOOD|
The photograph reached Ethan shortly after midnight.
He stared at Claire standing beside Roman Vale, her expression relaxed in a way he had not seen in years.
For several seconds, he felt something close to jealousy.
Then he remembered the gala, the unpaid invoice, and the growing investigation.
He called Madeline.
She answered on the fourth ring.
“What?”
“Where are you?”
“Not with you.”
“Madeline, stop being dramatic.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You hit Claire, lied about the contracts, and tried to make me sign documents I didn't understand. I think I'm entitled to a little drama.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“Did you speak to Rebecca Sloan?”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth.”
“You don't know the truth.”
“I know what I signed.”
“You signed routine paperwork.”
“You said that before.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then explain why my signature appears on a payment authorization I never approved.”
Ethan had no answer.
Madeline's voice became quieter.
“I wanted to marry you because I thought you were strong. I didn't understand that you were only strong when nobody challenged you.”
“That's enough.”
“No. It isn't.”
She ended the call.
Ethan threw his phone onto the desk.
He had always believed that Claire was the difficult one. She questioned him, noticed inconsistencies, and refused to accept explanations that made no sense.
Madeline had seemed easier.
She laughed at his jokes, admired his success, and told him that he deserved better whenever he complained about Claire.
Now both women had turned away from him.
He opened his laptop and searched for information about C.W. Atelier.
For the first time, he read the company's history.
He found photographs of Claire at industry conferences, interviews with clients, and announcements about contracts she had won without his assistance.
He discovered that she had expanded into Boston two years earlier, hired a team of specialists, and built a reputation for solving events other firms had refused to take.
He had known almost nothing about her work.
The realization made him angry.
Then it made him ashamed.
He remembered telling his friends that Claire was lucky to have him. He remembered explaining her success as the result of his connections.
He had believed those stories because they made him feel important.
At nine the next morning, Ethan went to her office.
This time, he waited at reception.
Claire agreed to see him for ten minutes, with Rebecca present.
He entered carrying a folder.
“I want to help.”
Claire looked at the folder.
“With what?”
“The investigation. I have records that may explain the Northstar transactions.”
“Then give them to your lawyer.”
“I wanted you to hear it from me.”
She remained silent.
Ethan sat down.
“I know I hurt you.”
“You hit me.”
“I know.”
“No, Ethan. You keep calling it hurt because that word makes it sound accidental.”
His face reddened.
“I lost control.”
“You decided that you had the right to punish me for speaking.”
He looked away.
“I can't change what happened.”
“Correct.”
“But I can fix the financial problem.”
Claire leaned forward.
“Then start by paying the invoice you owe.”
“I will.”
“Put it in writing.”
He nodded.
Then he opened the folder.
Inside were emails from Victor Shaw and Richard Hale, the Crowe family's financial adviser. They discussed the transfer of funds through Northstar and referred to a confidential redevelopment arrangement.
One message suggested that Claire's company would be used as a temporary vendor to make certain payments appear legitimate.
Ethan's name appeared on several emails, but it remained unclear whether he understood the full arrangement.
Claire looked up.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because I don't want you to think I planned everything.”
“Did you know my signature was being used?”
He hesitated.
“I knew there was a document.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Ethan stared at the floor.
“I didn't ask enough questions.”
Claire closed the folder.
“Then tell the investigators that.”
He stood slowly.
“Is there any chance we could ever be friends?”
“No.”
The answer hurt him more than he expected.
Claire continued.
“I'm not saying that to punish you. I'm saying it because I don't want you to mistake my willingness to tell the truth for an invitation back into my life.”
Ethan nodded.
He left the office without asking for another chance.
For the first time, he had encountered a consequence he couldn't negotiate away.
May you like
And as he walked toward the elevator, he received a message from Victor Shaw.
Stop cooperating. If you expose the original transaction, your mother goes down with you.
