Chapter 5 - The Woman on Payroll
Nina met Rachel and me at Rachel’s office that afternoon.
She arrived carrying an empty lunch bag because she had been too nervous to eat.
“I can’t lose my job,” she said.
“My mom lives with me.”
“Tell the truth,” Rachel said.
“We’ll discuss the risks honestly.”
Nina set down printed payment summaries she had received as part of her work.
She had kept Adrian’s instruction to remove the vendor from the next management report.
The vendor was Bellwether Consulting.
Its contact was Camille.
Over six months, Vale Development had paid it $860,000.
“For what?” I asked.
“Market introductions,” Nina said.
“That’s what the invoices say.”
I remembered the Cartier box in Adrian’s jacket.
He had told me it contained a retirement gift for a client.
Camille had worn the bracelet while drinking from my mother’s glass.
“I thought it was an affair,” I said.
Rachel looked at the dates.
“It may also be where the borrowed money went.”
Nina swallowed.
“Payroll is short. Friday’s checks won’t clear unless money comes in.”
I saw the faces of the workers who used to eat lunch on overturned buckets outside Adrian’s first project.
Luis, who had built the nursery shelves on his Saturday off.
Elaine, who mailed birthday cards to everyone’s kids.
None of them had stood in my dining room and told me to leave.
“How many?”
“Forty-three employees.”
When Nina left, Dad offered to arrange emergency funding.
“With what conditions?” I asked.
He paused.
“Independent oversight. No money through Adrian.”
“Then let the professionals work out whether it’s possible.”
That evening, Adrian posted a photograph of us from a charity dinner.
His caption said he was praying for his wife during a difficult period and hoping her family would stop exploiting her fragile condition.
Underneath were hearts, condolences, and people praising his patience.
Camille commented: Some people will do anything for money.
I started typing, then handed the phone to Rachel.
“Save it.”
An hour later, she called with worse news.
Adrian had asked the court for temporary use of the house.
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In his sworn statement, he claimed I had knowingly pledged it to rescue his company.
And he claimed my father was forcing me to lie.
