Chapter 8 - The Auction at Midnight.
Marcus found Richard Sloan's last confirmed address in Vermont, but the house had been sold years earlier.
No current phone number appeared under his name.
No active law license remained.
No social-media account existed.
It was as though he had erased himself.
While Marcus searched, Naomi's forensic accountant uncovered another problem.
Grant had pledged several pieces of marital artwork as collateral for a private loan.
The collection included a Rothko study Evelyn's mother had given her before the wedding.
"He can't pledge my mother's painting."
"He already did."
Naomi pushed a loan schedule across the table.
The lender had the right to seize the collection if Grant missed a payment due at midnight.
The payment was fifteen million dollars.
Almost the same amount Grant had just offered Evelyn in settlement.
Evelyn stared at the numbers.
"He was offering me money he needed to save the collateral."
"Or he expected you to take the deal quickly enough for him to refinance."
Marcus interrupted with another discovery.
The lender planned to auction the collateral privately that night at the Bellweather Hotel.
Grant had apparently agreed to surrender the pieces early in exchange for release from part of the debt.
Evelyn refused to let the painting disappear.
Naomi obtained an emergency order specifically preventing transfer of disputed marital property.
At 10:40 p.m., Evelyn entered the Bellweather ballroom beside a court officer.
Dozens of wealthy bidders stood beneath gold chandeliers sipping champagne as if they were attending a charity gala.
Grant was near the stage.
He saw Evelyn and went white.
"You can't be here."
"You said that at the jewelry store."
The court officer served the auction representative.
The sale halted immediately.
Whispers spread through the room.
Grant pulled Evelyn aside before Naomi could stop him.
"Do you understand what you've done?"
"I stopped you from selling my mother's painting."
"You stopped me from preventing a default."
"On a loan you hid from me."
Grant's face tightened.
"Everything I did was to protect Hartwell."
"You framed me for theft."
"Because you would have taken the company apart if you knew how exposed it was."
For one second, Evelyn heard something beneath his rage.
Not love.
Not remorse.
Terror.
"How exposed?"
Grant stepped closer.
"Go home, Evelyn."
"There is no home."
A familiar voice came from behind them.
"He's right about one thing."
Celeste stood near the ballroom entrance wearing a dark coat over a simple dress.
Grant stared at her as though seeing a ghost.
"Why are you here?"
Celeste lifted a small envelope.
"Because I found what you hid in my apartment."
Grant lunged toward her.
The court officer blocked him.
Celeste handed the envelope to Evelyn.
Inside was a jewelry-store receipt and a photograph of a leather document pouch.
The receipt showed the second diamond ring had not been purchased with Grant's personal account.
It had been charged to Hartwell Capital under an expense category labeled CLIENT RETENTION.
Evelyn looked up.
"You bought your mistress an engagement ring with company money?"
Grant's jaw clenched.
Celeste's voice shook.
"That's not the important part."
She tapped the photograph.
"He kept this pouch in my closet without telling me."
Evelyn recognized the faded initials embossed into the leather.
M.A.V.
Margaret Anne Vale.
Her mother's maiden name.
"Where is it now?"
Celeste swallowed.
"Gone."
Grant's eyes flicked toward the service corridor.
Evelyn saw it.
Marcus saw it too.
They both moved at the same time.
At the end of the corridor, an exit door slammed shut.
Marcus ran after the figure disappearing down the alley.
Evelyn returned to the ballroom where Grant was being held back by security.
Celeste leaned close.
"There was one paper outside the pouch."
She reached into her coat and removed a folded photocopy.
At the top were the words SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT.
At the bottom was Evelyn's mother's signature.
May you like
Next to it was a handwritten note.
IF GRANT EVER SAYS THIS COMPANY WAS HIS BEFORE THE MARRIAGE, HE IS LYING.
