Chapter 9 - Vanessa Turns Against Her Mother
Vanessa asked to speak privately through counsel.
She had messages.
Hundreds of them.
Margaret had instructed her to approve HGM invoices.
Vanessa received payments afterward labeled event consulting.
She knew the invoices were inflated.
She claimed she did not know Gregory was using the money to service
debt.
Then she showed Emily a message from Margaret:
Once Daniel’s restaurant is fully open, we can refinance against the
building and clean the old obligations.
Another message said:
Emily cannot see Robert’s addendum. She will ask questions Daniel never
asks.
Emily read that sentence again.
Daniel did not react at first.
Then he walked out of the room.
Emily found him in the empty dining room.
Broken glass still glittered beneath the tables.
“My own mother counted on me not asking questions.”
Emily touched his arm.
“She counted on both of us being busy.”
Daniel looked toward the office.
May you like
“She was right.”
That hurt more than any insult.
