Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF TELLING THE TRUTH
“Seventy-three families?”
Gabriel stood in his office, gripping the board notice.
Beatrice nodded.
“Seventy-three occupied apartments. Many residents are elderly. Some have lived there for decades.”
Gabriel looked at the proposed buyer.
A luxury redevelopment company.
The sale would pay North Point's creditors.
It would also remove a troubled property from the foundation's financial statements.
And it would make several inconvenient transactions harder to trace through ordinary internal records.
“Meredith is trying to bury the evidence,” Gabriel said.
“Possibly. But the property really is losing money.”
Gabriel frowned.
“So she's created a problem and found a solution that makes other people suffer.”
Beatrice closed her laptop.
“We need more evidence before accusing her of that.”
Gabriel knew she was right.
For years, he'd built his reputation on making difficult decisions quickly.
Now his instinct was to destroy Meredith before she could strike again.
But anger had already cost his family enough.
He needed facts.
At nine the following morning, Gabriel entered the foundation's boardroom.
Meredith sat at the far end of the table.
Her diamond necklace was gone.
She wore a simple navy suit.
Chairman Robert Hale opened the meeting.
“Gabriel, we understand you've raised concerns about the financial records.”
“I have.”
Meredith folded her hands.
“Then let's discuss them responsibly.”
Gabriel placed the independent accounting findings before the board.
“These transfers originated from restricted scholarship funds. They were redirected through North Point without appropriate disclosure.”
Several trustees began reading.
Robert looked up.
“Are you accusing Meredith of fraud?”
“I'm saying the records require an independent investigation.”
Meredith leaned forward.
“And are you prepared to explain why your name authorized them?”
Gabriel met her eyes.
“Yes.”
The room quieted.
“I approved temporary emergency authority after I believed my family had died. I failed to supervise its use. That was my responsibility.”
Meredith looked surprised.
Gabriel continued.
“But that authority did not permit anyone to impersonate Isabella Bennett or charge personal obligations to charitable accounts.”
A trustee turned toward Meredith.
“Personal obligations?”
Beatrice distributed another report.
“North Point's operating expenses included payments to a company controlled by Meredith's brother, Thomas Shaw.”
Meredith's face tightened.
“My brother provided legitimate construction services.”
“Then the invoices should withstand an independent examination,” Beatrice said.
Robert looked troubled.
“Can we postpone the vote until the accounts are reviewed?”
Meredith shook her head.
“Harbor House cannot afford another delay. The creditors are demanding payment.”
Gabriel spoke.
“Then I will personally guarantee a temporary operating reserve while the foundation conducts an independent audit.”
Robert stared.
“That could expose you to substantial losses.”
“I understand.”
Meredith leaned back.
“You're going to risk millions for a woman who disappeared from your life?”
Gabriel looked at her.
“She didn't disappear.”
Meredith's expression hardened.
“That's what she tells you.”
Gabriel stood.
“Isabella was alive. My daughter was alive. You told me they were dead.”
The room fell completely silent.
Robert slowly removed his glasses.
“Meredith?”
She looked at Gabriel.
“You're omitting important facts.”
“Then supply them.”
Meredith opened her briefcase.
Inside was an old cream-colored envelope.
She removed a single page.
“I kept this because I hoped we'd never need it.”
Gabriel stared.
“What is that?”
“A statement Isabella signed after giving birth.”
Meredith handed it to Robert.
He read silently.
Then his expression changed.
“This appears to confirm that Isabella voluntarily requested no contact with Gabriel Ashford.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“Let me see it.”
Robert passed him the page.
At the bottom was Isabella's familiar signature.
Above it were three sentences.
One stated that she wanted her location withheld.
Another stated that she did not wish Gabriel to contact her.
The last requested that all communication pass through Meredith Shaw.
Gabriel felt sick.
He looked up.
“Where did you get this?”
“From Isabella.”
“Why?”
“Because she was frightened of you.”
The accusation hit him harder than he'd expected.
Meredith looked around the boardroom.
“Gabriel was becoming increasingly controlling before the pregnancy. Isabella asked for my help leaving.”
“That isn't true.”
“Then why did she sign it?”
Gabriel stared at Isabella's signature.
He recognized it.
The shape of the letters.
The small flourish at the end.
It looked genuine.
Meredith lowered her voice.
“I didn't separate a family, Gabriel. I helped a frightened woman protect her child.”
Several trustees exchanged uncertain looks.
Robert set down the page.
“We'll need to verify this before proceeding.”
But Meredith wasn't finished.
She removed another item from her briefcase.
A faded hospital identification bracelet.
The kind placed around a newborn's wrist.
Gabriel recognized the date.
The day Lily was born.
Meredith held it toward him.
“Ask Isabella why she signed that statement,” she said.
Then she turned the bracelet over.
May you like
Someone had written two words across the back in black ink.
DO NOT RELEASE.
