Chapter 4 - THE ACCOUNT NO ONE TOLD HER ABOUT
Ryan shut the front door.
“Listen to me.”
“No.”
Emily folded her arms.
“You listen.”
Ryan looked exhausted.
“Mom's scared.”
“So am I.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
Ryan rubbed his face.
“The business went bad.”
“What business?”
He hesitated.
Emily stared at him.
“What business, Ryan?”
He finally admitted it.
“The investment company.”
Emily frowned.
“You don't own an investment company.”
“I did.”
“When?”
“Two years ago.”
“Why didn't I know?”
“Because it was private.”
Emily almost laughed.
“You mean secret.”
Ryan didn't answer.
“What did you invest in?”
Ryan looked at Diane.
She shook her head.
Emily noticed.
“Mom knows.”
“Yes.”
“Melissa knows?”
Ryan looked down.
“She knew some of it.”
Emily's heart sank.
“How much money?”
Ryan swallowed.
“About eight hundred thousand.”
Emily stared at him.
“Dollars?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you get eight hundred thousand dollars?”
Ryan said nothing.
Emily suddenly understood.
“From me?”
“No.”
“Ryan.”
“No.”
“Look at me.”
He did.
His eyes were wet.
“I borrowed against things.”
“What things?”
He didn't answer.
Emily's voice dropped.
“My account?”
“No.”
“My house?”
“No.”
“Mom's house?”
Ryan went silent.
Emily stepped backward.
“Oh my God.”
Ryan whispered,
“I was going to fix it.”
“How?”
“I had a plan.”
“You mortgaged Mom's house.”
“It wasn't supposed to happen like this.”
Emily looked at Diane.
“And you let him?”
Diane looked away.
Emily's voice trembled.
“How much of my money went into that company?”
Ryan didn't answer.
Emily already knew.
She turned toward the door.
Ryan grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
She pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
“Emily, please.”
“No.”
She walked out.
As she reached her car, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
“Ms. Whitmore?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Jonathan Reed.”
Emily froze.
“Who are you?”
May you like
“I think you should know what your family has been paying for.”
Then the call ended.
