Chapter 5 - The Funding Round Began to Collapse
Thain’s biggest investor called me before breakfast.
Not because he cared about my marriage.
Because money makes people suddenly interested in the truth.
His name was Marcus Bell, managing partner of a Boston venture fund preparing to lead Thain’s financing round.
“Mrs. Hale, I’m not asking you to discuss privileged divorce matters.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“Because your attorney notified a lender that your signature may have been used without authorization.”
I said nothing.
Marcus continued carefully.
“If Ravelin was used to move undisclosed funds into the company, our diligence process has a problem.”
“How large?”
“That depends on what we find.”
For years, Thain had told me investors were sharks.
That morning I realized he had spent months swimming among them while bleeding into the water.
By noon, the funding round was paused.
Thain finally appeared at my hotel.
He didn’t make it past the lobby.
Security called my room.
I went downstairs only because Sloan was already with me.
Thain looked terrible.
Same expensive coat.
Same perfect hair.
But his eyes were bloodshot.
“You talked to Marcus?”
“He called me.”
“You had no right to interfere with my company.”
Sloan stepped between us verbally before I could answer.
“Your wife disputed a signature appearing on a personal guarantee. She has every right to protect herself.”
Thain ignored her.
“Kala, if this round dies, hundreds of people could be affected.”
“Then you should have considered that before forging my name.”
His face changed.
Not outrage.
Fear.
That was my answer.
“You did it.”
He lowered his voice.
“I was going to fix it.”
Sloan immediately said, “Thain, you should speak through counsel.”
But he was already unraveling.
“The company had a cash problem. Temporary. Ninety days. That’s all.”
“So you borrowed against my name?”
“Our name.”
“My signature isn’t community property.”
He flinched.
Then I asked the question that mattered.
“Were you going to blame me if the financing failed?”
“No.”
“Lyra recorded you.”
His face went completely still.
That was when I knew Lyra had told me the truth.
But Thain’s next sentence changed the situation again.
“You shouldn’t trust Lyra.”
“Why?”
He looked toward Sloan.
Then back at me.
“Because she didn’t accidentally find Ravelin.”
May you like
A pause.
“She was looking for it before the affair even started.”
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