Chapter 3 - The Mansion in Connecticut)
The property sat behind iron gates in Greenwich.
Emma did not go there herself.
Claire insisted.
“You are seven months pregnant. You are not following your mother-in-law across state lines like a private investigator.”
“So you’re going?”
“I’m sending one.”
Three days later, photographs arrived.
Emma opened them at her desk.
The first showed a stone mansion under construction.
The second showed three garages.
The third showed imported limestone stacked beside a partially completed pool.
The fourth showed Sebastian Vale shaking hands with a contractor.
Emma stared at the image.
Sebastian was thirty-three, charming, handsome, and perpetually unfortunate.
At least that was how Eleanor described him.
His restaurants failed because partners betrayed him.
His investment fund collapsed because markets were unfair.
His engagement ended because his fiancée was shallow.
Julian had spent years cleaning up the consequences.
But according to Julian, that had ended.
“I stopped funding him,” he once told Emma. “He has to grow up.”
Apparently someone else had continued.
Claire arrived that afternoon with property records.
“The land was purchased eleven months ago.”
“By Sebastian?”
“A company called BSV Development.”
“Who owns that?”
“Sebastian.”
Emma examined the purchase price.
Two point one million dollars.
“Where did he get this?”
Claire opened another folder.
“That’s the question.”
The construction costs were worse.
Estimated completion value exceeded eight million.
Emma shook her head.
“Eleanor doesn’t have that kind of money.”
“Not legally.”
The final word hung between them.
Emma looked up.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we need to stop thinking about this as a difficult mother-in-law.”
Claire sat.
“Money is moving through too many accounts. Julian’s housing reimbursements go to Eleanor. A percentage of his compensation goes to Eleanor. Eleanor transfers money to Sebastian. Sebastian is building something far beyond his known income.”
“Maybe Julian knows.”
“Maybe.”
Emma hated how much the possibility hurt.
The financial secrecy was one thing.
The thought that Julian might be participating in it while treating her like a dependent was another.
That evening she tested him.
They ate dinner alone.
Eleanor had been invited but canceled after Emma asked that she call before entering.
Julian interpreted his mother’s absence as emotional injury.
“You embarrassed her.”
“How?”
“You treated her like an intruder.”
“She entered my office without permission.”
“Our office.”
Emma looked at him.
“You keep saying things like that.”
“Because you keep forgetting we’re married.”
Emma put down her fork.
“Does marriage mean everything belongs to you?”
Julian sighed.
“Can we not?”
She changed direction.
“How is Sebastian?”
Julian’s shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly.
“Why?”
“I haven’t seen him recently.”
“He’s fine.”
“What is he doing?”
“Consulting.”
“For whom?”
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“What’s with the interrogation?”
“No interrogation.”
She took a sip of water.
“I was thinking about inviting him to the baby shower.”
“He won’t come.”
“Why?”
“He’s traveling.”
“Where?”
“Emma.”
His tone changed.
Warning.
She studied him.
“You don’t know, do you?”
“I know enough.”
“Is he still asking you for money?”
Julian’s fork stopped.
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Does your mother ask you for money?”
He laughed.
“My mother has plenty.”
“From where?”
The laugh disappeared.
“What exactly are you trying to imply?”
Emma kept her expression neutral.
“Nothing.”
Julian leaned back.
“You’ve been spending too much time with Claire.”
“Why?”
“Because everything turns into some legal conspiracy.”
Emma almost smiled.
“You think Claire creates conspiracies?”
“I think divorce lawyers profit when wives become suspicious.”
“Claire has never encouraged me to divorce you.”
“Not yet.”
Julian stood.
“I’m going to the club.”
“At nine thirty?”
“I need air.”
He left.
Emma listened as the elevator descended.
Five minutes later, her phone rang.
Claire.
“You were right,” Claire said.
“About what?”
“There’s more.”
Emma walked into her office and shut the door.
Claire had obtained additional transaction records through a lawful review of accounts tied to Emma’s holding company.
One transfer stood out.
Two hundred fifty thousand dollars.
Sent fourteen months earlier.
The sender designation made Emma sit down.
It was not Julian.
It was Meridian Residential Holdings.
Her company.
“That’s impossible.”
“I know.”
“I never authorized that.”
“I know.”
“To whom?”
Claire paused.
“BSV Development.”
Sebastian’s company.
Emma stared at the wall.
Someone had taken a quarter million dollars from an entity she controlled and moved it into Sebastian’s mansion project.
“Who signed?”
“The electronic authorization lists your initials.”
Emma felt cold.
“I didn’t do it.”
“There’s more.”
The authorization had originated from the penthouse.
From an approved device.
Emma’s mind immediately went to her office.
Her laptop.
Her passwords.
Then she remembered Eleanor entering whenever she wanted.
Claire spoke carefully.
“Emma, until we know who accessed the account, you cannot confront anyone.”
Emma looked toward the hallway.
A sound came from outside the office.
A floorboard.
Someone was in the penthouse.
She knew Julian had left.
The housekeeper had gone hours earlier.
Emma stood silently.
Another sound.
Closer.
She opened the office door.
May you like
Eleanor stood ten feet away.
And in her hand was Emma’s laptop.
