Chapter 7 - The Bills Behind the Flowers
Martin eventually agreed to speak through his attorney.
He did not claim innocence.
He claimed pressure.
Six months before the wedding, Whitmore Industries was already short on cash. Robert refused to scale back the reception after telling vendors and business contacts that his daughter’s wedding would be “the event of the year.”
Diane treated the ballroom like a public statement about the family.
Imported flowers.
A twelve-piece band.
Premium liquor.
Custom installations.
Guest rooms.
Transportation.
The bills exceeded $180,000.
Jason and I had offered to pay for a smaller wedding ourselves.
My parents refused.
“This is our gift,” Diane said.
Martin’s records showed Whitmore Industries paid several wedding vendors.
Robert classified them as client-development and employee-retention expenses because executives, contractors, and customers were invited.
Martin objected.
Robert overruled him.
At the same time, employee retirement contributions were delayed.
“The money was temporary,” Martin said through his attorney. “Robert expected two construction receivables before year-end.”
They did not arrive.
Martin warned him repeatedly that the retirement funds had to be restored.
Diane knew.
She helped create the $75,000 transfer form because that amount would have brought the trust close enough to current for the upcoming review.
Three months earlier, she had asked me exactly how much cash remained from my condo sale.
I told her.
I remembered the pleased little nod she gave.
At the time I thought she was happy Jason and I were financially secure.
Now I understood she had been calculating.
Still, something did not fit.
The wedding expenses accounted for part of the cash shortage, not all of it.
More than $200,000 remained unexplained.
Martin said Robert had forbidden him from reviewing one vendor category.
“Which one?” Luke asked.
Martin looked at both of us.
“Consulting payments to a company called Blue Ridge Strategic.”
Luke swore under his breath.
May you like
I recognized the name too.
It belonged to our mother.
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