Chapter 2 - THE MONEY TRAILJulian stared at the expense report.
“Emma, this is ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
He picked up the papers.
“These were legitimate business expenses.”
I smiled.
“Then explain them.”
He looked at Chloe.
She looked back at him.
That single glance told me more than any confession could have.
My father leaned forward.
“Julian.”
His voice was calm.
“Start talking.”
Julian straightened.
“I've already told you. Everything was business.”
I opened my tablet.
“Then why did you and Chloe stay at the Bellmont Hotel for three nights?”
Chloe's face changed.
Julian answered quickly.
“Vendor negotiations.”
“Which vendor?”
He hesitated.
“Westbrook Catering.”
I looked at Chloe.
“Is that true?”
She swallowed.
“Yes.”
I opened another file.
“Westbrook Catering canceled their contract eight months ago.”
Silence.
My father slowly leaned back.
Julian's face became pale.
“That's not—”
“Enough.”
My voice was quiet.
Everyone stopped.
“I don't care about the affair anymore.”
Julian looked at me.
“You don't?”
“No.”
That surprised him.
I continued.
“I care about the money.”
My father nodded.
“Good.”
Julian tried to laugh.
“You're acting like I stole something.”
“You did.”
He slammed his hand on the table.
“You don't know what you're talking about!”
I stared at him.
“I own fifty-two percent of Morgan Events Group.”
His face froze.
Chloe looked at me.
“What?”
I smiled.
“You didn't know?”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“I knew about the trust.”
“You knew my grandmother left me shares.”
“Yes.”
“But you never knew how many.”
He said nothing.
My father looked at him.
“That's because Emma never needed you to know.”
Julian's jaw tightened.
I opened another document.
“Here's the trust agreement.”
I placed it on the table.
“Fifty-two percent.”
Chloe stared.
“You own the company?”
“I control it.”
Julian suddenly looked sick.
“Emma…”
“No.”
I held up my hand.
“You've had twelve years to tell me the truth.”
He looked down.
I continued.
“You chose the wrong woman to lie to.”
He stood.
“This is insane.”
My father blocked his path.
“Sit down.”
Julian slowly sat.
I looked at Chloe.
“How long?”
She started crying.
“Emma…”
“How long?”
“Seven months.”
My heart didn't break.
It had already broken in the garage.
“Seven months.”
She nodded.
“I'm sorry.”
“No, you're not.”
She looked at me.
“You're sorry you got caught.”
She began crying harder.
Julian reached for her hand.
That small movement told me everything.
He wasn't ashamed.
He was protecting her.
I opened another file.
“Now let's discuss the vendor accounts.”
Julian looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What is that?”
“Every payment made to companies connected to you or Chloe.”
He didn't answer.
I scrolled.
$4,800.
$7,200.
$11,500.
$6,300.
The total continued climbing.
My father stared.
“How much?”
I answered.
“Not $38,600.”
I turned the tablet toward him.
“That's only what I found this morning.”
Julian's breathing became heavy.
I looked at him.
“There's more.”
He whispered:
“No.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
I had hired an outside forensic accountant before coming to the diner.
They had already begun tracing the transactions.
And the first report had arrived.
I opened it.
My stomach tightened.
There were payments to five companies.
All registered within the last eighteen months.
All connected to people I knew.
All receiving money from Morgan Events Group.
But one name appeared repeatedly.
C&M Strategic Consulting.
I looked at Chloe.
“Who owns C&M?”
She froze.
Julian closed his eyes.
My father picked up the report.
“C&M is owned by…”
He stopped.
Then looked at Julian.
May you like
“Your mother.”
The diner went silent.
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