Chapter 5 - BARBARA'S REAL PLAN
At breakfast, Barbara acted like the victim.
She sat at the head of the table wearing a cashmere sweater I had bought her for Christmas.
"This family weekend has been ruined," she announced.
Nobody mentioned the pool.
Nobody mentioned the bruises on my arms.
Instead Bradley's aunt said, "Marriage takes forgiveness."
Derek said, "We were all drinking."
His brother Mason added, "You know Bradley did not mean anything."
I poured coffee.
"Did he mean the forged guarantee?"
The room changed.
Barbara's cup stopped halfway to her mouth.
Bradley said, "Not here."
"Why not? Everyone was invited into our marriage last night."
Derek stood.
"I do not know what you are talking about."
"North Shore Leisure Partners."
His face betrayed him before his mouth could.
Barbara recovered fastest.
"That is a family investment."
"Using my company as guarantor."
"Bradley is an executive there."
"He does not have authority."
She waved one hand.
"Technicality."
I stared at her.
"Forgery is a technicality?"
Bradley slammed his palm on the table.
"Enough."
I looked at him.
He lowered his voice.
"We were going to tell you."
There it was.
We.
Not him.
Not Derek.
The family.
Barbara leaned forward.
"You have more money than you could ever spend. Bradley wanted to build something of his own."
"With my balance sheet."
"With family resources."
"My company is not a family resource."
Barbara smiled without warmth.
"That attitude is why Bradley has been miserable."
I turned to him.
"Are you miserable?"
He looked at the table.
Barbara answered for him.
"He is tired of being Mr. Maddie Bennett."
Finally, the truth.
He did not want partnership.
He wanted ownership.
I picked up my phone.
Serena had sent a message.
DO NOT LEAVE ALONE. WE FOUND PAYMENTS FROM COMPANY ACCOUNTS TO DEREK'S LLC.
Amount: $486,000.
Over eighteen months.
My fingers went cold.
May you like
Bradley had not merely tried to borrow against my company.
He had already been taking from it.
