Chapter 8 - The Account Behind the Account.
Jennifer read the draft agreement twice before placing it flat on the glass.
It promised Chloe a fixed monthly payment and a lump sum for Noah's expenses.
There was nothing wrong with supporting a child.
The problem was the source of the money.
A transfer account ending in 9031 appeared in the payment section.
Jennifer had never seen it.
Daniel noticed where her eyes stopped.
"That's not what you think."
Jennifer looked up.
"Then tell me what it is."
He hesitated.
Chloe answered instead.
"He called it his reserve account."
Daniel glared at her.
"You have no idea how my finances work."
"Neither did your wife," Chloe said.
The words landed harder than a shout.
Daniel's father reached for the agreement.
His eyes moved down the page.
"What bank is this?"
Jennifer named it.
The older man's expression changed.
"That's where our company keeps the executive distribution accounts."
A low murmur moved through the coworkers again.
Daniel immediately raised a hand.
"Stop. Nobody is saying I took company money."
Jennifer agreed.
"I haven't said that."
She wanted the distinction clear.
This was not a courtroom, and she was not going to make claims she could not prove.
"But I am saying you hid an account from me while telling me our family account was short because baptism costs were higher than expected."
Daniel paced one step away from the table.
"People have separate accounts."
"Of course they do."
Jennifer's voice remained level.
"People also tell the truth about why shared bills aren't getting paid."
Patricia finally spoke.
"Daniel, did you ask me for twelve thousand dollars last month because you said Jennifer's father had delayed a reimbursement?"
Daniel stopped moving.
Jennifer turned toward her.
"What twelve thousand dollars?"
Patricia's face tightened with embarrassment.
"He said the baptism deposits had temporarily tied up your cash flow."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Jennifer felt anger rise again, slow and hot.
He had borrowed money from his mother using her family as the excuse.
"Did you give it to him?" Jennifer asked.
Patricia nodded.
Daniel's father looked at his wife.
"You never told me."
"He said it was temporary."
Daniel stepped toward them.
"It was."
Jennifer looked at the draft agreement again.
The lump sum offered to Chloe was exactly twelve thousand dollars.
She slid the page toward Patricia.
"Look at the amount."
Patricia read it.
Her hand dropped to the table.
"You used my money?"
Daniel's silence confirmed enough.
Patricia's shock became something colder.
"You told me Jennifer was too proud to ask for help."
Jennifer looked at Daniel.
He had built a separate story for every person in the room.
To Chloe, Jennifer was controlling.
To Patricia, Jennifer was proud and irresponsible.
To his father, Daniel was traveling for business.
To Jennifer, the family was simply spending too much.
Every lie had been designed so the people closest to him would never compare notes.
Daniel looked toward the ballroom doors.
For the first time, Jennifer thought he might leave.
Instead, his phone buzzed.
He glanced down.
His expression changed again.
Jennifer saw only two words on the notification before he covered the screen.
"Transfer blocked."
May you like
Daniel looked at Jennifer.
And she realized he had tried to move money during the confrontation.
