Chapter 14 - The Recording
Grant’s recording was ugly.
But not in the way I expected.
Richard’s voice came first.
If Bennett keeps digging, put the approvals on him.
Mom answered:
No. Claire would never recover from that.
Richard laughed.
She’s already halfway out the door.
Mom said:
I said break their confidence. I did not say send him to prison.
My stomach turned.
Break their confidence.
She had drawn a moral line after crossing twenty others.
Richard continued.
You planted the hotel receipt. You played him the recording. Don’t pretend you’re clean now.
Mom whispered on the audio:
I wanted him gone from the company.
Not from her life.
Richard replied:
You don’t get to control where a lie stops.
The recording ended.
Grant’s attorney explained that Grant had helped prepare false invoices and copied signatures. He was cooperating with investigators.
Richard had used Diane’s misconduct as cover to steal more than anyone realized.
Preliminary numbers suggested $4.7 million in questionable transfers over several years.
About half could be tied to company expenses or recoverable assets.
The rest was under investigation.
Mom looked at me.
“I never wanted you to lose Noah.”
I felt no comfort.
“You were willing to make me believe he betrayed me.”
“Yes.”
“That can end a marriage all by itself.”
“I know.”
“No. You know now.”
She had nothing to say.
Noah drove me home.
We sat in the car outside our house.
Neither of us moved.
Finally I said:
“I don’t know what we are right now.”
“I know.”
“I’m angry that you hid the audit.”
“You should be.”
“I’m angry you believed her recording instead of asking me.”
“I know.”
“And I’m angry at myself for believing a hotel receipt instead of asking you.”
He looked at me.
“Maybe we both got very good at being scared quietly.”
I hated how true that was.
Then he handed me his wedding ring.
My heart stopped.
“I’m not leaving,” he said. “I’m giving this to you because I don’t want the ring to become a promise I’m demanding you honor before you know what you want.”
I closed my hand around it.
The next morning, the board called an emergency meeting.
Diane planned to attend.
May you like
So did Richard.
And both intended to blame the other.
