Chapter 3 - The Debt Hidden Beneath the Flowers
Andrew moved closer.
“What are you talking about?”
Clara handed the financial report to Mr. Bell.
He passed copies to two attorneys waiting near the entrance.
Patricia’s eyes followed every page.
Her breathing became shallow.
“This is absurd.”
Clara looked around the ballroom.
“The Whitlock family did not pay for this wedding.”
Andrew frowned.
“I transferred the deposit myself.”
“You transferred money from a company account.”
Clara paused.
“A company that has not paid its employees in nine weeks.”
Several guests turned toward one another.
Andrew’s cousin, Daniel, lowered his champagne glass.
Patricia forced a laugh.
“Business cash flow has nothing to do with a wedding.”
“It does when payroll funds were moved into a private event account.”
Andrew stared at his mother.
“You said the company was restructuring.”
Patricia did not look at him.
“We are restructuring.”
Clara continued.
“The flowers cost forty-eight thousand dollars.”
“The imported wine cost thirty-one thousand.”
“The ballroom renovations cost more than two hundred thousand.”
“And all of it was paid through Whitlock Development.”
Andrew’s face tightened.
“That is my company.”
“No.”
A man near the rear of the ballroom spoke.
Everyone turned.
He was in his sixties, wearing a plain navy suit.
Clara recognized him as Martin Cole, the company’s former chief financial officer.
Patricia’s expression changed instantly.
“You were not invited.”
Martin walked forward.
“Clara invited me.”
Andrew looked between them.
“Why?”
Martin stopped beside Clara.
“Because your mother fired me after I refused to falsify the company accounts.”
Patricia pointed toward the exit.
“Get out.”
Martin held up a flash drive.
“I kept copies.”
The room erupted in whispers.
Andrew turned to Clara.
“How long have you known?”
“Three days.”
“And you still came to the wedding?”
“I needed to know whether you were involved.”
His eyes flashed.
“You could have asked me.”
“I did.”
Clara’s voice softened.
“I asked why your company employees were protesting outside your headquarters.”
“You told me they were lazy.”
Andrew looked away.
Clara remembered that conversation clearly.
She had wanted to believe him.
Now she hated herself for trying.
Martin opened the report.
“Six million dollars disappeared over fourteen months.”
Daniel Whitlock stepped closer.
“Six million?”
Patricia snapped.
“Do not listen to him.”
Martin continued.
“Three million went into shell companies.”
“Two million covered personal debts.”
“And nearly one million funded Andrew and Clara’s wedding.”
Andrew grabbed the report.
“I did not authorize this.”
Patricia finally turned to him.
“I protected your future.”
“You stole from my employees.”
“I kept your company alive.”
“You bought orchids.”
Her face hardened.
“Do not embarrass me in front of these people.”
Andrew stared at her.
It was the first time Clara saw him look at his mother with anger.
But it did not last.
Patricia lowered her voice.
“Tell Clara to stop.”
Andrew looked toward Clara.
His hesitation returned.
“Clara, we can investigate this later.”
Martin shook his head.
“There may not be a later.”
Two men in dark suits entered the ballroom.
One of them displayed a badge.
“Patricia Whitlock?”
The music hall fell silent again.
“We are with the state financial crimes division.”
Patricia’s face turned white.
“We need to speak with you about an active fraud investigation.”
Andrew stepped backward.
Patricia looked at Clara with pure hatred.
“You did this.”
Clara met her stare.
“No.”
“You did.”
Then one of the investigators opened his folder.
“There is also a complaint involving the attempted transfer of this estate.”
Clara’s heartbeat stopped.
She had never authorized any transfer.
May you like
The investigator looked directly at Andrew.
“And the forged signature belongs to Clara Mason.”
