Chapter 3 - JASMINE HAD MADE FOUR MILLION DOLLARS
Jasmine Cole had not simply slept with my husband.
At that point, I wasn’t even sure that was the worst thing she had done.
She had made approximately $3.8 million when Prescott Global acquired Vela Systems.
That alone was not illegal.
Executives can own outside investments.
The question was disclosure.
Nathan brought in securities attorney Rachel Kim.
Rachel had the emotional warmth of an airport security scanner.
I liked her immediately.
“Was Jasmine employed by Prescott when the acquisition closed?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Did she participate in strategic presentations?”
“Yes.”
“Was her ownership disclosed to the full board?”
We searched.
No.
There was one disclosure.
Buried in an internal conflict questionnaire.
Jasmine had written:
Minor passive interest, immaterial.
Four million dollars did not feel immaterial.
Then Rachel found something worse.
Two months before Prescott announced the acquisition, Jasmine increased her Vela investment by $700,000.
“How?” I asked.
“She bought shares from an early employee.”
“Using whose money?”
That answer took longer.
A personal loan.
Lender:
PRESCOTT FAMILY CREDIT LLC.
I stared.
Aaron’s family had financed Jasmine’s investment in a company Aaron later purchased.
The acquisition instantly multiplied her return.
My phone buzzed.
Jasmine.
I had never given her my private number.
I answered anyway.
“Claire.”
Her voice was softer than I expected.
“I know how this looks.”
“Which part?”
Silence.
“The relationship.”
“So there is one.”
Another silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
I felt surprisingly little.
Maybe I had already buried the marriage at 3:17 a.m.
“How long?”
“Seven months.”
Aaron had lied that morning.
Useful information.
Then Jasmine said:
“But you need to understand something. Aaron did not know about the loan.”
“His family lending company financed you.”
“Melissa arranged it.”
Aaron’s mother.
Again.
“Why?”
“She wanted me financially tied to Prescott.”
“Why?”
Jasmine hesitated.
“Because she expected Aaron to leave you eventually.”
My fingers tightened.
“For you?”
“No.”
That answer surprised me.
“For someone else?”
“No.”
“Then explain.”
Melissa had apparently disliked me almost from the beginning.
Not because I was poor.
Not because I lacked status.
Because I did not need Prescott money.
Families built around wealth often become suspicious of people they cannot financially control.
Melissa wanted Aaron married to someone whose career, social position, and finances depended on the family.
Jasmine fit better.
Then Jasmine whispered:
“She promised me something.”
“What?”
“If Aaron divorced you, I would become chief marketing officer and receive an equity package.”
There it was.
Romance with a compensation plan.
“How touching.”
“You think I’m proud?”
“I don’t think about your pride.”
That silenced her.
Then she said:
“There’s something Aaron doesn’t know.”
“What?”
“His mother has been moving shares.”
My pulse changed.
“Whose shares?”
“His.”
Prescott Global was private but widely held among family trusts, executives, and investors.
Aaron believed he would inherit controlling voting power from his father’s estate.
According to Jasmine, that was no longer true.
Melissa had quietly amended several family trusts.
“Why?”
Jasmine whispered:
“To make sure Aaron never controls Prescott Global alone.”
Then:
“And Claire, your grandfather knew she was going to do it.”
I stopped breathing.
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Melissa told me.”
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Then Jasmine said something that made every other secret feel smaller.
“She said your grandfather invested in Prescott Global because he never trusted Aaron’s father.”
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