Chapter 5 - EVELYN’S HOUSE WAS ALREADY ON THE LINE
Evelyn contacted Claire before the protective order paperwork was fully served.
She called from a number Claire did not recognize.
“You are destroying him.”
Claire nearly hung up.
Instead, she asked one question.
“How much is your house securing?”
Evelyn went quiet.
“Who told you?”
“Enough people.”
The answer was $390,000.
Evelyn had signed a personal guarantee eighteen months earlier when Westbridge purchased additional vehicles.
Grant told her a major hospital contract would cover the loan.
Three months later, the contract collapsed.
He never told her.
By the time Evelyn learned, refinancing was difficult because she had retired and her income was lower.
Grant promised Claire’s trust would eventually provide the solution.
“What did he tell you?” Claire asked.
“That you’d agreed to help after the baby came.”
“I didn’t.”
“He said your father’s money was supposed to become family money.”
“My father never said that.”
Evelyn’s voice hardened.
“You have millions tied up while my son is drowning.”
“So you helped him drag me into a garage?”
“I thought you were going to sign.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Evelyn was trying to create a moral distinction between financial coercion and physical violence.
There wasn’t one that mattered.
Then Evelyn said something unexpected.
“I didn’t know about Natalie until tonight.”
Claire sat straighter.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“He told me Natalie was his controller.”
“She is.”
“What else is she?”
“My replacement.”
Evelyn inhaled sharply.
Grant had told his mother Claire was refusing to help out of selfishness.
He had told Claire the company was healthy.
And apparently he had told Natalie something else entirely.
May you like
Three women were standing around the same collapsing business.
Grant had given each a different map.
