Chapter 14 - THE PRICE OF AN OLD LIEAdrian Cole had disappeared after his termination.
Not literally.
He simply moved to Nevada, opened a consulting company and stopped appearing in Ethan’s life.
Claire learned why he had been fired over dinner.
“Fraud,” Ethan said.
“How much?”
“Almost three million.”
Claire stared.
“And you never pressed charges?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
Claire immediately knew.
“Your father.”
“Yes.”
Richard had ordered Ethan to handle the matter privately.
Adrian returned the money.
Signed an NDA.
Left.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Ethan sighed.
“Adrian claimed the money was his.”
“Why?”
“Because my father owed him.”
Claire put down her fork.
“For what?”
“I never asked.”
There it was.
The old Ethan.
Not cruel.
Conveniently incurious.
Claire leaned back.
“You fired a man for stealing three million dollars without investigating why he believed it belonged to him?”
“I was twenty-six.”
“That explains stupidity. Not responsibility.”
“I know.”
Ethan did not defend himself.
Claire hated how much easier that made arguments.
“Stop becoming reasonable while I’m angry.”
“I can try being worse.”
“Don’t.”
The next day, Ortiz located Adrian.
Seattle.
Not Nevada.
He had returned six months earlier.
Police brought him in.
Adrian admitted sending the photograph.
Denied the explosion.
Then he told them why.
Richard Bennett had not merely stolen Evelyn Shaw’s development model.
He had allegedly hidden profits from early investors.
Including Adrian’s father.
Ethan listened silently.
“How much?”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“Enough that your family became rich while mine lost everything.”
Claire watched Ethan absorb it.
Adrian leaned forward.
“You built an empire on graves.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“I didn’t know.”
“That’s what wealthy sons always say.”
Claire expected Ethan to retaliate.
Instead:
“You’re right.”
Adrian stopped.
Ethan continued.
“I should have known.”
Silence.
“But if you endangered workers—”
“I didn’t.”
Adrian looked directly at Claire.
“I wanted Ethan embarrassed.”
He nodded toward the photograph.
“I wanted him digging.”
“Why?”
“Because somebody else is using the same secrets.”
Claire frowned.
“Who?”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“You really don’t know?”
He laughed.
“Then your biggest problem isn’t me.”
“Who?”
Adrian leaned closer.
“Ask the person who approved the Tacoma insurance policy.”
Claire’s blood ran cold.
Only four people had authority.
Claire.
Hannah.
Their finance director.
And Bennett Urban Development’s representative.
May you like
Marcus Reed.
Ethan’s closest friend.
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