Chapter 11 - The Employees
I tried calling Tessa twice and then stopped.
If Gavin was nearby, repeated calls might make her situation worse.
Mara arranged a secure way for Tessa to share documents and advised her not to take records she was not entitled to access.
I was not interested in turning someone else's job into another casualty of my marriage.
That afternoon three clients suspended projects after Gavin accused me of stealing company assets online.
Their deposits were in accounts I could not control.
Tessa sent a message saying the payroll report showed enough money for only one more cycle.
There were twenty-three employees.
I thought of their children, their rent, and the ordinary lives suspended by one man's pride.
Daniel assembled a report distinguishing money I had loaned the company, equity I had actually received, and the withdrawals he considered questionable.
The numbers were complicated.
Some funds were unquestionably mine.
Some were company assets.
Some would require a court or a formal accounting to determine.
Gavin had relied on my confusion about those categories for years.
He would say we owned everything together when he wanted my savings, and nothing together when I asked about spending.
Mara helped me authorize a neutral review of the books through appropriate legal channels.
She also instructed me not to promise employees money I could not guarantee.
That restraint hurt.
I wanted to fix everything immediately.
Then Tessa called from a quiet parking lot.
“Gavin told us to delete a project folder,” she said.
“What folder?”
“Lydia Restoration.”
My aunt's first name landed between us like a dropped glass.
“There was never a restoration contract,” I said.
“I know,” Tessa answered.
“The folder contains estimates for demolishing the wall under your staircase.”
She paused.
“And Claire, there are photographs taken while you were home asleep.”
I felt the air go thin.
“How many?”
“More than fifty.”
A car engine started near her.
“I have to go.”
The call ended, and a screenshot arrived seconds later.
It showed the hallway at 3:08 a.m.
Gavin held a flashlight.
Brenda stood beside him with a set of my house keys.
May you like
Celia Voss was kneeling at the staircase.
