Chapter 8 - THE EX-HUSBAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Brenda’s former husband, Nathan Price, had been married to her for eleven years.
During the divorce, she told everyone he was selfish, disloyal, and interested only in her family’s money.
Damian had believed her.
Now Nathan was sitting across from him inside a small law office in Annapolis.
He looked exhausted.
“I wondered when you’d finally call.”
Damian placed the transfer records on the table.
“Explain.”
Nathan glanced at the documents.
“Victor is trying to move money before the investigation reaches him.”
“Why use your account?”
“Because Brenda helped him set it up.”
Damian stared.
“Brenda told me you took money from her.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“She told everyone that.”
“Was it true?”
“No.”
He opened a folder.
Inside were records from their divorce.
Brenda had transferred substantial sums into accounts she claimed were marital assets.
But the original deposits traced back to consulting fees paid by Westbridge.
“She wanted me to sign a settlement that made the money look legitimate.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Nathan’s expression hardened.
“I tried.”
Damian felt a familiar sickness.
“Who did you contact?”
“Your executive office.”
Of course.
Another warning intercepted.
Another person ignored because someone else controlled access to him.
Nathan continued.
“When I refused to sign, Brenda threatened to destroy my reputation.”
“Did she?”
“She tried.”
He slid another document across the table.
A settlement proposal that offered him money in exchange for silence.
He rejected it.
But Brenda publicly described their divorce as the result of his infidelity.
Damian stared at the papers.
“How much does she control?”
“I don’t know anymore.”
Nathan looked directly at him.
“But I know why she needed Fiona discredited.”
“Why?”
“Because Fiona asked questions about Westbridge before the auditors did.”
Damian remembered the dates Fiona listed.
March twelfth.
April sixth.
May nineteenth.
All those evenings he postponed their conversations.
Every missed opportunity had given Brenda more time.
Nathan continued.
“Once Brenda realized Fiona was helping the same employees whose assistance payments were being diverted, she knew the discrepancies could be uncovered.”
“So she prepared to blame Fiona.”
“Yes.”
“And the Harbor House complaint?”
“Part of the same plan.”
Nathan explained that Brenda had encouraged a lender to question Fiona’s source of funds.
She hoped the financing would collapse.
If Fiona became desperate enough, she might abandon her project and accept a quiet settlement.
“Why would Brenda care whether Fiona bought a building?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Because Harbor House is sitting on land somebody else wants.”
Damian went still.
“What?”
Nathan opened a map.
Harbor House stood near a redevelopment corridor where several hotel and commercial projects were being proposed.
One of the potential buyers was an O’Connor subsidiary.
A redevelopment proposal had been prepared months earlier.
If Harbor House entered foreclosure, the property could be purchased at a discount.
Damian felt something cold settle in his chest.
His sister was not merely trying to destroy Fiona’s reputation.
She was trying to take the building Fiona hoped to use to help displaced employees.
Then Nathan pointed to the original redevelopment proposal.
There was a signature authorizing the preliminary project.
Damian’s.
This time, the signature was genuine.
He stared at it.
May you like
He had approved the acquisition strategy eight months earlier without realizing it included the building his wife was trying to save.
And the date matched the same week Fiona first asked him for help.
