Chapter 3
For twenty-eight years, I had built my construction company with one rule.
Never use money that doesn't belong to you.
My mother had taught me that when I was twelve years old.
I once found a twenty-dollar bill outside a grocery store.
We barely had enough money for dinner.
But Mom made me take it inside and ask the cashier whether anyone had reported losing it.
"Being poor doesn't give us permission to be dishonest," she told me.
I never forgot those words.
Now, standing in my dining room, I was hearing that my own wife might have taken money from the business I had spent nearly three decades building.
I looked at Maya.
"What do you mean?"
She twisted her fingers nervously.
"Mom has been using one of your company cards."
I stared at her.
"Which card?"
"The silver one."
My stomach tightened.
The silver corporate card belonged to an administrative account.
It was supposed to be used for approved business expenses.
Jasmine occasionally helped organize company charity events.
I had allowed her limited access to the account for purchases related to those events.
Nothing else.
"What has she been buying?"
Maya looked miserable.
"Clothes. Furniture. Trips."
"Trips?"
She nodded.
"And something for the house."
I glanced around.
"What house?"
Maya swallowed.
"Not this one."
The room became silent.
I stared at her.
"Explain that."
She looked toward the staircase.
"Mom told me not to tell you about the condo."
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"What condo?"
"She bought an apartment downtown."
I couldn't speak.
Jasmine had complained for months that we needed to save more money.
She had discouraged me from replacing my mother's old car.
She had suggested reducing donations to the community center my mother volunteered at.
And now I was hearing that she had purchased another property.
With money I might have unknowingly provided.
"How do you know about it?"
Maya wiped her face.
"I've been there."
"When?"
"Last month."
I took a slow breath.
"Who lives there?"
She hesitated.
"Nobody yet."
"Why did she buy it?"
"I thought you knew."
I nearly laughed.
Those words were becoming the most painful sentence in my house.
I looked toward the ceiling.
Jasmine was upstairs, presumably calling relatives and preparing to tell everyone how cruel I had been.
I turned to Maya.
"Did your mother tell you where the money came from?"
She shook her head.
"She said it was an investment."
I nodded.
"All right."
I took out my phone and called my company's chief financial officer.
His name was Daniel Price.
He had worked with me for eleven years.
"Arthur?"
"Daniel, I need you to review all expenses on the administrative silver card."
He sounded surprised.
"Is something wrong?"
"Possibly."
"How far back?"
"Start with the last eighteen months."
There was a pause.
"Arthur, I'm looking at the account now. Some transactions have already been flagged."
My chest tightened.
"Flagged by whom?"
"Our accounting department."
"Why wasn't I told?"
"We requested supporting documents through the events team. We were told they were being collected."
"Who told you that?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Mrs. Bennett."
Jasmine.
I closed my eyes.
"Freeze the card immediately. Preserve the records. Don't delete or change anything."
"Understood."
"And Daniel?"
"Yes?"
"Arrange an independent review. I want to know exactly what happened."
When I ended the call, Maya was crying again.
"I'm sorry, Arthur."
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
She swallowed.
"Mom said you knew about everything."
I studied her face.
There was fear there.
But also confusion.
I realized Jasmine had been telling different stories to different people.
To my mother, she claimed I wanted rent.
To Maya, she claimed I approved her spending.
To me, she claimed the household needed more money.
Each lie protected the others.
"Listen," I told Maya. "I appreciate you telling me now. But we need to establish what actually happened."
She nodded.
"Will you call the police?"
"If evidence shows that company funds were misused, we'll follow the proper process."
She looked frightened.
"My mom could get in trouble."
I sighed.
"Consequences come from choices, Maya."
She stared at the floor.
I softened my voice.
"That doesn't mean you have to stop loving her."
She looked up.
"Really?"
"Really."
I knew what it felt like to love someone who had disappointed you.
I was experiencing it myself.
That afternoon, Jasmine came downstairs carrying two suitcases.
She looked furious.
Her mother, Lorraine, had arrived to collect her.
Lorraine was a seventy-year-old retired teacher with a sharp tongue and an expensive handbag.
She marched into the foyer.
"Arthur, what is this nonsense?"
I remained calm.
"Hello, Lorraine."
"Jasmine tells me you're throwing her out because your mother doesn't want to help around the house."
I looked at Jasmine.
She avoided my eyes.
"That's not what happened."
Lorraine folded her arms.
"Then explain."
I did.
I told her about the hand-washing.
The rent.
The threats.
The way my mother had been made to feel unwanted.
Lorraine listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she turned toward Jasmine.
"Did you make Evelyn pay rent?"
Jasmine sighed.
"Mother, please."
"Answer me."
"She offered."
I heard my mother speak from behind me.
"No, dear. I didn't."
Lorraine looked at Evelyn.
Her expression changed.
"Evelyn?"
My mother stood near the hallway.
She seemed embarrassed to be the center of attention.
"I thought I had to pay if I wanted to stay."
Lorraine stared at her daughter.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Jasmine, tell me that isn't true."
Jasmine's face tightened.
"This is ridiculous. Everyone is taking her side."
Lorraine shook her head.
"Because she's seventy years old!"
Jasmine looked stunned.
I hadn't expected Lorraine to defend my mother.
Neither had Jasmine.
"Mother, you're supposed to support me!"
Lorraine took a slow breath.
"I will support you when you're wrong by telling you the truth."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Lorraine turned toward me.
"Arthur, I'll take Jasmine home."
I nodded.
"Thank you."
"But I hope you understand that marriage requires communication."
"I do."
"And perhaps after everyone calms down—"
I shook my head.
"Right now, my priority is protecting my mother."
Lorraine studied me.
Then nodded.
"Fair enough."
Jasmine grabbed her suitcase.
Before leaving, she turned toward Maya.
"Come on."
Maya hesitated.
I watched her face.
She looked torn.
Then she whispered, "Mom, I need to talk to Grandma first."
Jasmine stared at her.
"You're choosing them?"
Maya began crying.
"I'm trying to apologize."
For a second, something cruel flashed across Jasmine's face.
Then she turned and stormed outside.
The front door slammed.
I heard the car pull away.
And suddenly, the house was quiet.
Too quiet.
I turned toward my mother.
She looked exhausted.
"Mom, let's get you comfortable."
She nodded.
I helped her upstairs and brought her warm tea.
Later, after she fell asleep, I sat alone in my office.
My phone rang.
Daniel.
"Arthur, I have the preliminary card records."
I straightened.
"What did you find?"
He hesitated.
"Over the last eighteen months, approximately eighty-six thousand dollars in expenses require explanation."
My stomach dropped.
"Eighty-six thousand?"
"Yes."
"What kind of expenses?"
"Luxury purchases, travel, furniture, and payments to a property management company."
I closed my eyes.
The condo.
Daniel continued.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"A separate account was created six months ago under a consulting vendor."
I frowned.
"Who authorized it?"
"That's what worries me."
He paused.
"The approval records show your signature."
May you like
My blood ran cold.
Because I had never approved that account.
