Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO FIXED EVERYTHING
Grant arrived before noon in a charcoal coat.
He walked through the front door without knocking, carrying coffee for Ethan and the easy confidence of a man who had helped raise him.
“Margaret called,” he said. “Sounds like the house has lost its mind.”
Ethan stayed behind his desk.
“Did you authorize the destruction of foundation records?”
Grant set the coffee down.
“Good morning to you, too.”
“Did you?”
“Routine retention cleanup. We have an audit next week.”
“Which makes destroying originals a strange choice.”
Grant’s expression softened.
It was the look he used when Ethan was fourteen and furious about something the adults had already decided.
“Your father trusted me with the foundation for twenty-three years.”
“I’m asking about Tuesday.”
“And I’m telling you there’s context.”
Ethan slid the Harbor House invoice across the desk.
Grant barely glanced at it.
“A maintenance vendor.”
“For which properties?”
“I don’t carry the entire ledger in my head.”
“Who owns it?”
“Ethan.”
“Who?”
Grant leaned back.
“Before you turn this into a family disaster, you should know your maid has a history.”
Ethan’s hands went still.
Grant continued.
“She made accusations against a previous employer. Money went missing. Charges were considered.”
“Were charges filed?”
“No, but—”
“Was she convicted of anything?”
“People settle matters quietly.”
“Apparently.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
“Margaret tried to give that woman a second chance. Now she’s creating exactly the kind of trouble we were warned about.”
“She worked nearly thirty-six hours.”
“Then discipline Margaret for scheduling. Don’t let a disgruntled employee drag your father’s name through the dirt.”
Ethan heard the shift.
Not the foundation’s name.
His father’s.
“What does my father have to do with Harbor House?”
Grant stood.
“More than you understand.”
After he left, Ethan called Olivia.
She answered from a taxi in Manhattan.
“If this is about the gala seating, I’m hanging up.”
“Have you approved any household shifts this week?”
“What? No.”
“Who has your authorization code?”
“No one. I changed it last month.”
“Did you leave it written down?”
A pause.
“I gave Margaret temporary access while we reorganized the staff portal. Why?”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Olivia’s voice sharpened.
“Ethan. What happened?”
Before he could answer, another notification appeared on his screen.
FOUNDATION DISBURSEMENT SCHEDULED: $8,400,000.
May you like
SECOND TRUSTEE APPROVAL RECEIVED.
The approving trustee was Olivia.
