Chapter 3 - The Missing Two Hundred Thousand
Claire began reviewing every party expense.
The ballroom itself cost forty-eight thousand dollars. Flowers added nineteen thousand. Catering, music, photography, luxury transportation, custom invitations, and security pushed the total beyond one hundred and twenty thousand.
Yet Julian had repeatedly claimed the party cost almost two hundred thousand.
Claire opened the shared payment spreadsheet and found several transfers labeled event services.
The companies did not exist.
One payment had gone to an account controlled by Julian. Another had been transferred to a consulting firm registered under Vanessa’s name.
Claire felt something colder than anger.
She searched the property company’s records.
Over the previous year, Julian had requested business distributions for emergency renovations. Claire had approved them because he was still legally a minority shareholder.
There had been no renovations.
More than eighty thousand dollars had moved through temporary accounts and eventually reached Bianca and Vanessa.
Claire called the company’s accountant, Mr. Shaw.
“Did Julian ever provide receipts for the Elm Street repairs?”
“No,” he replied. “He said you had approved an alternative documentation process.”
“I approved no such thing.”
There was a pause.
“Claire, there is something else.”
Mr. Shaw sent her copies of three documents bearing her electronic signature.
They authorized Julian to use company funds as collateral for a personal credit line.
The signatures looked real.
They were not.
Claire remembered Julian borrowing her laptop during a family dinner. He had claimed his phone battery was dead.
Her hands began to shake.
For years, she had protected him from embarrassment, debt, and failure. He had repaid her by using her identity to access the company their father had built.
Claire contacted an attorney before confronting Julian.
Attorney Rachel Kim examined the records and removed her glasses.
“This is not a family disagreement,” she said. “This may involve fraud.”
Claire looked toward the office window.
“I don’t want him arrested.”
“That decision may not remain entirely yours.”
“He’s my brother.”
Rachel leaned forward.
“Being your brother gave him access. It did not give him permission.”
Claire authorized a private audit.
That evening, Julian called and asked her to pay an additional twenty-five thousand dollars to extend the ballroom reservation until midnight.
Claire stared at the sunset outside her apartment.
“I’ll take care of the venue,” she said.
Julian laughed with relief.
May you like
“I knew I could count on you.”
Claire ended the call without correcting him.
