Chapter 5 - The Contract
The ballroom manager, Mr. Alvarez, listened carefully as Claire explained the situation.
The original contract covered the event from three in the afternoon until six in the evening. Julian had requested an extension until midnight, but the extension had not yet been paid.
Claire had told him she would handle it.
She never promised to approve it.
“I need the event to end at the original time,” Claire said.
Mr. Alvarez frowned.
“That may surprise your guests.”
“It will surprise the hosts.”
“Are you certain?”
Claire placed evidence of the false payment companies on his desk.
“Several vendors were told they would receive final payment from accounts that do not exist. I am protecting your staff from being left unpaid.”
Mr. Alvarez reviewed the documents.
“What about the food scheduled after six?”
“Serve everything already covered by the original contract. At 6:05, stop.”
“And the music?”
“Stop it.”
“The screen?”
“Turn it off.”
Mr. Alvarez closed the folder.
“We will need a clear signal.”
Claire showed him her phone.
“One message.”
She also contacted every vendor Bianca and Julian had charged to Claire’s personal account.
The luxury car service was canceled.
The after-party rooftop reservation was released.
The imported champagne order was reduced to the amount already paid.
The designer hotel suite booked for Bianca’s family was removed from Claire’s card.
Then Rachel filed emergency documents preventing Julian from moving company funds during the audit.
Claire transferred operational authority to an independent financial manager. She changed every business password and suspended Julian’s company access.
The consequences would begin at 6:05.
But Claire did not plan to announce everything.
She only wanted one moment in which Julian and Bianca understood that the person they had mocked had been holding their entire celebration together.
Rachel warned her to remain calm.
“Do not accuse them publicly of crimes. State only what you can prove.”
Claire nodded.
“The contract is in my name.”
“Correct.”
“The extension was never activated.”
“Correct.”
“The other payments were authorized through my accounts.”
“Correct.”
Rachel studied her.
“Are you prepared for your brother to blame you?”
“He has blamed me every time I saved him.”
May you like
“And this time?”
“This time, I’m letting him experience the problem he created.”
