Chapter 8 - The Proposal Was a Meeting
I read the sentence until the room blurred.
BENNETT GIRL NOW INSIDE.
My engagement had been written into a ledger like a business task.
"Daniel didn't meet me by accident," I said.
Maya looked at the dates.
"When did you two first meet?"
"A compliance conference in Nashville."
Nora opened Martin's notebook.
"There's a Nashville entry."
She found it.
CARTER - identify reviewer on dormant Northstar matter.
My face went numb.
I had met Daniel at the hotel bar after speaking on a panel about hidden beneficial ownership.
He told me he was in town for a vendor meeting.
By the end of the night, he knew where I worked, what cases I handled, and that my father had died.
But he had also been collecting information.
My phone buzzed with a news alert.
CARTER HEIR'S WEDDING NIGHT ENDS IN DOMESTIC DISPUTE.
A photograph of me leaving the hospital appeared beneath it.
The story quoted an unnamed family source saying I had "reacted violently during a disagreement about money."
Maya swore.
"They're building a public story."
Evelyn stared at the screen.
"Harold always moves fast."
Another alert came from my employer.
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE CONFIRMED PENDING REVIEW.
Then Daniel called.
This time I answered.
"Did you meet me because of Northstar?"
He said nothing.
"Daniel."
"It started that way."
"Started?"
"I was supposed to learn what your team knew. That's all. Then I fell in love with you."
"And six weeks before you proposed, your family drafted a postnup to silence me."
"I didn't draft it."
"Did you know?"
Another silence.
That was my answer.
Then he said, "Claire, Dad is moving money right now. If you keep pushing, he'll destroy records and blame you."
"Why are you telling me?"
"Because I don't want you hurt."
I almost laughed.
"You hit me three hours after our wedding."
He whispered, "I know."
Then his voice dropped.
May you like
"And if you want proof that I'm not completely lost, check the email account I created under your maiden name. Password is the date your father died."
The line went dead.
