Chapter 6 - THE FIANCÉE'S PRICEBianca's father, Richard Sterling, received Miles in the private dining room of his downtown hotel.
Richard was a disciplined investor who had built his fortune by avoiding emotional decisions. He had never liked Miles, but he had respected the company's growth and the financial advantages of a marriage between their families.
Now he regarded his future son-in-law as a risk assessment that had suddenly become very expensive.
"Tell me the truth," Richard said.
Miles sat opposite him.
"The allegations are exaggerated."
"That isn't the truth."
"The company has a liquidity problem caused by a hostile creditor."
"Julian Vance did not create missing money."
Miles tightened his jaw.
"There's an internal accounting dispute."
Richard opened a folder.
"Then explain why my family office received a request to verify the source of funds used to purchase Bianca's engagement ring."
Miles went still.
The ring had cost more than two million dollars.
"It was purchased legally."
"That wasn't my question."
Miles looked at the folder.
A transaction summary showed that part of the money used for the ring had passed through a consulting subsidiary that also appeared in the disputed charitable transfers.
He felt his stomach drop.
"The ring was paid for with compensation."
"Compensation approved by whom?"
"The board."
"Then produce the authorization."
Miles had no answer.
Richard closed the folder.
"My daughter will not be dragged into a criminal investigation because you couldn't distinguish company money from your own."
Bianca entered before Miles could respond.
"I can speak for myself, Dad."
She wore a cream-colored suit and sunglasses, despite the dim room.
Richard looked at her.
"Do you know where the money came from?"
She hesitated.
"I know what Miles told me."
"That is not the same thing."
Miles rose.
"Bianca, tell him this is a misunderstanding."
She stared at him.
For weeks, she had replayed the moment in the ballroom when Iris had begged her to stop. She had told herself the humiliation was harmless, that Iris had exaggerated the danger, that a woman who worked as a server should have expected to be treated as disposable.
Now she understood how easily that same reasoning could be used against her.
If she admitted she had ignored the financial warning signs, she would appear foolish.
If she defended Miles, she might become complicit.
"I don't know where the money came from," she said.
Miles's expression darkened.
"You promised to stand by me."
"I promised to marry the man I thought you were."
"You think you can abandon me now?"
Bianca removed her engagement ring.
She placed it on the table.
Richard watched without comment.
"I need time," she said.
Miles stared at the ring.
"You'll regret this."
"Perhaps."
She turned toward the door, then paused.
"One more thing. I received an email from someone claiming to be a former employee of your company. She says you used my family's hotel business to disguise payments."
Richard's face hardened.
"Who sent it?"
"Evelyn Price."
Miles's composure finally broke.
"Delete it."
Bianca looked at him in disbelief.
"You know her?"
"She was a disgruntled employee."
"What did she find?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you afraid of her?"
Miles stepped toward her.
"Because people like Evelyn don't understand what happens when they expose information without knowing the consequences."
Richard stood between them.
"That is enough."
Miles looked around the room and realized that he had lost control of the conversation.
He left without another word.
In the hallway, he called a private investigator.
"I want everything on Evelyn Price. Her family, her finances, her address, every person she's spoken to."
The investigator hesitated.
"Is this a legal matter?"
"It's a business matter."
"Then let your attorneys handle it."
Miles lowered his voice.
"Find her."
When the call ended, he received a message from Bianca.
I won't protect you from the truth.
May you like
For the first time in years, Miles felt something more frightening than losing money.
He felt abandoned by the people who had once believed he could do no wrong.
Related Stories
