Chapter 4 - The Debt No One Could Explain
Dominic moved Claire temporarily into one of his secure guest apartments.
She hated the idea.
He expected her to hate it.
“You're not a prisoner,” he said.
“Then why are there two security guards downstairs?”
“Because I like sleeping at night.”
“I don't.”
“You will.”
Claire crossed her arms.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like I'm fragile.”
Dominic looked at her.
“I don't.”
“Really?”
“I think you're stubborn, intelligent, exhausted, and surrounded by people who underestimate you.”
She blinked.
“That sounded almost like a compliment.”
“It wasn't.”
She smiled.
“Liar.”
He looked away.
For two people who had met less than forty-eight hours earlier, they were becoming dangerously comfortable.
But the investigation was getting worse.
The independent audit revealed nearly eleven million dollars in unexplained liabilities.
Charles had borrowed against company assets.
Madison's charity had received money.
Lauren had signed several consulting agreements.
Even Emily had received payments from a subsidiary.
Claire sat in the conference room staring at the documents.
“My sisters knew.”
Dominic sat across from her.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Receiving money doesn't prove they knew where it came from.”
Claire rubbed her forehead.
“I spent my entire life thinking they were spoiled.”
“They may be.”
She looked up.
He added:
“But that doesn't make them criminals.”
Claire sighed.
“You're annoyingly reasonable.”
“I've been told.”
The door opened.
Victor entered.
“We found Raven Harbor.”
Dominic straightened.
“Who owns it?”
Victor placed a folder down.
“A man named Daniel Cross.”
Claire frowned.
“Never heard of him.”
“You have.”
Dominic pointed to a photograph.
Daniel Cross stood beside Charles at a charity event.
Claire recognized him.
“He's my father's attorney.”
Victor nodded.
“Was.”
Claire's eyes narrowed.
“When did they start working together?”
“Four years ago.”
The timing was significant.
Anne had died fifteen years earlier.
But the company's decline had accelerated four years ago.
“Why?”
Dominic slid another document toward her.
A loan agreement.
Claire read it.
Then reread it.
“The interest rate is insane.”
“Twenty-two percent.”
“That's predatory.”
“Exactly.”
“Why would my father accept this?”
Dominic leaned forward.
“Because he wasn't borrowing for the company.”
Claire looked at him.
“What was he borrowing for?”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Someone else's debt.”
A silence.
“Whose?”
He slid over another page.
Claire stared at the name.
Madison Whitmore.
Claire closed her eyes.
“My sister.”
“Madison had gambling debts.”
Claire looked up sharply.
“She doesn't gamble.”
“She did.”
“How much?”
“About six million.”
Claire sat back.
“She borrowed six million?”
“No.”
Dominic's voice was quiet.
“Your father borrowed it for her.”
Claire couldn't speak.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The charity.
The transfers.
The hidden accounts.
Her father's desperation.
But one thing didn't.
“Why would he risk the entire company for Madison?”
Dominic looked at her.
“Because he loves her.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Then the door opened.
Madison stood there.
She looked exhausted.
No makeup.
No perfect hair.
Her eyes were red.
Claire stood.
“Why are you here?”
Madison looked at Dominic.
“Can we talk privately?”
“No.”
Madison looked at Claire.
“Please.”
Claire hesitated.
Dominic nodded.
He left the room.
Madison sat down.
“I didn't steal the money.”
Claire stared.
“You received it.”
“I didn't know what it was.”
“Then why did you hide it?”
Madison began crying.
“Because Dad told me I'd go to prison.”
Claire's expression softened slightly.
“What happened?”
Madison explained.
Two years earlier, she had invested in a restaurant venture.
It collapsed.
She owed money.
A private lender threatened her.
Charles intervened.
He paid the debt.
But he used company funds.
When Madison discovered it, she panicked.
She started moving money back into the charity account.
It became a cycle.
She borrowed.
Charles covered it.
The debt grew.
Claire listened.
Then asked:
“Who was the lender?”
Madison whispered:
“Daniel Cross.”
Claire froze.
“What?”
“He introduced me to them.”
Claire stood.
“Dominic needs to hear this.”
Madison grabbed her wrist.
“There's more.”
“What?”
“Daniel wasn't helping me.”
Madison's face went white.
“He was using my debt to control Dad.”
“For what?”
Madison looked toward the door.
“To get control of Whitmore Freight.”
The door opened.
Dominic had heard enough.
“How?”
Madison swallowed.
“Daniel told Dad that if he couldn't repay the debt, he would force a sale.”
Dominic's eyes hardened.
“Who was behind Daniel?”
Madison shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Dominic looked at Claire.
“Your father does.”
They found Charles that evening.
He was sitting alone in his study.
Claire placed the loan agreement on the table.
“Tell me who Daniel works for.”
Charles stared at the paper.
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“No.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“Mr. Whitmore, if you don't tell us, someone else will decide what happens to your family.”
Charles looked at him.
“You think you're protecting them?”
“Yes.”
“You're making it worse.”
“Then tell us.”
Charles looked at Claire.
His eyes filled with something she had never seen before.
Regret.
“I made a deal.”
“With whom?”
Charles whispered:
“Your mother's brother.”
Claire froze.
“My uncle?”
“You don't have an uncle.”
Charles shook his head.
“Not anymore.”
Dominic frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Charles looked at Claire.
“Your mother wasn't an only child.”
Claire's heart pounded.
“Then where is he?”
Charles's answer was almost inaudible.
“Dead.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“No.”
Charles looked at him.
“You're wrong.”
May you like
“Why?”
“Because I saw him last month.”
