Chapter 5 - Margaret Admits the First Secret
Margaret said Gregory owed nearly $900,000 to private lenders after a
failed development project.
She had spent eighteen months trying to rescue him.
Daniel was furious.
“So you stole from us?”
“I borrowed.”
“You changed our safe code.”
“I was going to put it back.”
Emily almost laughed.
“With what?”
Margaret did not answer.
Then Vanessa spoke from across the room.
“She promised me ten percent.”
Everyone turned.
Margaret snapped:
“Shut up.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Why? You already blamed me.”
She admitted Margaret told her to take the grand-opening cash because
Gregory needed an immediate payment that night.
If he missed it, a lender could seize collateral.
Daniel asked:
“What collateral?”
Vanessa looked at Emily.
“That’s the part Mom didn’t want you to know.”
Margaret stood.
“Vanessa.”
But Vanessa was done protecting her.
“The building.”
Emily felt the room tilt.
The restaurant building was supposed to belong to Daniel and Emily’s
company.
May you like
Margaret had apparently pledged something connected to it.
Without telling them.
