Chapter 12 - TRENT FINALLY RAN OUT OF STORIES
Trent requested a meeting through Naomi.
Clara refused.
He asked again.
This time his attorney would attend.
Naomi recommended accepting only because Trent claimed he could clarify transaction records relevant to recovering trust assets.
They met in a law office overlooking Bryant Park.
Clara brought Naomi.
Elaine did not come.
Brittany was not invited.
Charles insisted on attending.
Clara allowed it.
Trent entered looking exactly like the man Clara had planned to marry.
Navy suit.
White shirt.
Hair neatly cut.
No visible chaos.
For a moment her body remembered loving him before her mind caught up.
She hated that.
Trent sat.
“I never intended to steal from you.”
Clara almost laughed.
Naomi said, “That is an unfortunate opening.”
Trent’s attorney whispered to him.
Trent changed course.
He claimed Lawson Strategic Partners had performed legitimate consulting work related to the bridge facility.
Clara asked:
“Did Charles know you owned it?”
“Yes.”
Charles immediately said, “I knew you had an LLC. I did not know trust fees were going there.”
Trent looked at him.
“You signed them.”
“Because you put them inside transaction packages with other approvals.”
“You don’t read anything.”
Charles stopped.
Trent knew exactly where to strike.
“You wanted speed. You wanted plausible deniability. You told me to make the problem disappear.”
Charles looked sick.
“Not by paying yourself.”
“You were happy not to ask.”
Clara interrupted.
“He’s right about that.”
Charles turned.
“Clara.”
“Don’t make me defend you because Trent is worse.”
Trent looked at her.
“Thank you.”
“I’m not defending you either.”
She leaned forward.
“Why Brittany?”
His face changed.
Clara continued.
“Not the money. Her.”
Trent looked away.
“She needed me.”
Clara almost laughed.
“That’s your answer?”
“You never needed anyone.”
“I was marrying you.”
“You handled everything.”
Trent’s voice became bitter.
“Work. Wedding. Your parents. The apartment. I felt like another line item.”
“Then you could’ve left.”
“I know.”
“Instead you slept with my sister.”
“I know.”
“And still planned to marry me.”
Trent closed his eyes.
“I thought once the refinancing closed, I’d fix everything.”
Clara stared at him.
There it was.
The same disease in a different man.
Charles would save the company first and repair the family afterward.
Trent would finish the financing first and repair the relationship afterward.
Everybody kept borrowing against future forgiveness.
“Did you promise Brittany you’d leave me?”
Trent shook his head.
“Not exactly.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That after closing, everything could change.”
Clara felt disgust.
“You gave both of us a future tense.”
Trent looked down.
Charles asked:
“Did you deliberately enlarge the trust facility?”
Trent’s attorney interrupted.
Naomi let him.
The meeting was not a confession factory.
Eventually Trent admitted only that he prepared the amended financing documents and received fees he believed were contractually justified.
The investigators would have to determine intent from records.
Clara stood.
Trent looked at her.
“Is there any chance—”
“No.”
“I didn’t finish.”
“You don’t need to.”
“Clara.”
She looked at him.
“The only thing I still need from you is documentation.”
May you like
Trent’s face collapsed slightly.
For the first time, he understood the relationship itself was no longer under negotiation.
