Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Company
I read the woman's name three times.
*Lauren Pierce.*
It meant nothing to me, yet Daniel reacted as if someone had struck him.
“Dad, where did you get that?””
Robert calmly placed the paper beside his coffee.
“Public property records. I checked them after the lender contacted me.””
“You had no right to investigate my business.””
“I had every reason to investigate a transaction that appeared to involve my daughter-in-law's identity.””
Daniel turned to the relatives.
“This is absurd. Lauren is an accountant. She handles some paperwork for the company.””
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
“You told me the company was named after your business.””
“It is.””
“Then why is this woman listed on the property documents?””
“Because she's a professional. That's what professionals do.””
Mark leaned forward.
“Daniel, what exactly is this property supposed to be?””
“An investment.””
“An investment for whom?””
Daniel glared at him.
“Can everybody stop interrogating me?””
I placed my purse back on the chair.
I had planned to leave. But if Daniel had used my information to borrow money, I wasn't going to walk out before I understood what I was facing.
“Who is Lauren Pierce?”” I asked.
“My accountant.””
“Only your accountant?””
His eyes narrowed.
“What kind of question is that?””
“An ordinary one. You bought a property, used an account connected to Vanessa, and placed it under a company managed by you and a woman whose name I've never heard. I'd like to understand why.””
He laughed sharply.
“Because I don't tell you every detail of my business?””
“No. Because you told me we couldn't afford an air conditioner.””
For the first time, Daniel seemed to realize that I wasn't going to be distracted by his anger.
I pulled out my phone.
“I'm taking photographs of these documents.””
He immediately reached for the papers.
“Those belong to Dad.””
Robert placed his hand over them.
“She has my permission.””
Daniel stopped.
I photographed every page, making sure the figures, dates, and company details were readable. Then I emailed the images to my personal account.
Daniel watched me with mounting frustration.
“What are you doing?””
“Keeping records.””
“Claire, you're blowing this out of proportion.””
“Then the records will clear everything up.””
Robert nodded once, as if he approved.
Vanessa was still staring at Lauren's name.
“Daniel, I need you to answer one question.””
He sighed.
“What now?””
“Did you use my bank account to pay for this property?””
“No.””
“Then why did Dad say my name was connected to the deposit?””
“Because the account was used temporarily. It was an administrative arrangement.””
“Did you tell Claire about it?””
Daniel looked away.
Vanessa stood.
“You told me Claire had agreed to help!””
“I said I would handle it!””
“You said she was investing!””
“Vanessa, sit down!””
“No!”” She grabbed her handbag.
“You let me believe I was part of a legitimate investment. If this is illegal, I don't want my name anywhere near it.””
Her sudden change of position would have been funny under different circumstances. The woman who had spent years joking about my money was now desperate to distance herself from the very arrangement she had apparently accepted without asking enough questions.
“Vanessa,” I said, “did you receive any money from the property account?””
She looked at me.
“Just a transfer.””
“How much?””
“Five thousand dollars.””
“For what?””
Daniel stepped between us.
“That's enough.””
I raised my phone.
“I'm asking a question.””
Vanessa's hands trembled as she opened her purse.
“It was supposed to be for furnishing the house,” she said.
“Daniel told me he'd reimburse the account later.””
“Did you keep the money?””
“I spent some of it on furniture. I transferred the rest to another account.””
“Whose account?””
She hesitated.
“Mine.””
I nodded slowly.
There it was: a trail of transactions that none of them could explain consistently.
Daniel pointed at me.
“Look what you're doing. You're turning my family against me.””
I stared at him.
“I'm asking where money went. If the answers are innocent, they shouldn't be difficult.””
“You're not a financial investigator!””
“No. I'm the person whose name is on the loan.””
That silenced him.
Robert leaned back in his chair.
“Daniel, I want you to understand something. I didn't bring those documents tonight to embarrass you. I brought them because I was hoping you'd finally tell the truth.””
Daniel's expression softened into something almost pleading.
“Dad, I made mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes.””
“Then start correcting them.””
“I will.””
“When?””
Daniel looked toward the restaurant door.
“Tomorrow.””
Robert shook his head.
“You said that six months ago about my loan.””
The words landed harder than a shout.
For a moment, Daniel looked like a little boy caught stealing from his father's wallet.
Then his expression changed again.
He straightened his jacket, picked up his bill, and placed it in front of Mark.
“Can you cover this for me? I'll transfer you the money tonight.””
Mark stared at him.
“Seriously?””
“It's temporary.””
“You just spent an hour explaining why Claire should pay for everything. Now you want me to cover your dinner?””
“Mark, don't make this difficult.””
Mark slowly pushed the bill back.
“No.””
Daniel blinked.
“What?””
“I said no. You ordered it. You pay for it.””
Vanessa let out a short, bitter laugh.
“Welcome to the family, Daniel.””
No one joined her.
I stood again.
This time, Daniel didn't touch me.
“Claire,” he said, lowering his voice, “please come home with me. We can work this out privately. I'll explain everything about Lauren.””
I searched his face for the man I had married.
“Why didn't you tell me about her before tonight?””
He looked down.
“Because I knew you'd misunderstand.””
“Then explain it now.””
He hesitated.
Robert gathered the papers into the envelope.
“Perhaps the explanation should come from Lauren herself.””
Daniel's head snapped up.
“What does that mean?””
Robert reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
“I called her this afternoon. I asked her to attend dinner.””
“You did what?””
“She said she would come.””
Daniel grabbed the back of his chair.
“Dad, you had no right!””
At that moment, someone knocked twice on the private dining room door.
The waiter opened it.
A woman in a navy blazer stood in the doorway, holding a slim leather portfolio.
She looked directly at Daniel.
“I'm sorry I'm late,” she said.
“Traffic on the interstate was terrible.””
Daniel's face lost every trace of color.
Lauren Pierce stepped into the room.
Then she looked at me.
“Claire Mitchell?””
“Yes.””
She took a slow breath.
“I think you deserve to know why your husband asked me to keep the property a secret.””
Daniel moved toward her.
“Lauren, don't.””
May you like
She opened her portfolio.
“I'm afraid I can't protect you from this anymore, Daniel.””
