The Marriage Built on Convenience
Chapter 08 - The Marriage Built on Convenience
Walter Cole had never liked dramatic accusations.
He built his business by distrusting emotion and trusting numbers.
So when he told Madison that Blake might be stealing, she listened.
They met at Walter's house that night.
Her father looked older than he had a month earlier.
The stroke had taken some strength from his left hand, but not from his mind.
"Three properties were transferred into shell companies," he said. "I didn't authorize it."
"Blake said those were tax restructures."
"Blake says many things."
Madison sat very still.
Walter looked at her.
"The voting documents he asked you to sign would have given him control of your shares."
"For six months."
"Renewable automatically."
Madison stared at him.
"I didn't see that."
"Because the clause was on page forty-seven."
She thought of Blake pushing the papers toward her.
Just sign where I marked.
Noah's with me.
Don't worry.
Her stomach turned.
"What does this have to do with Ethan?"
Walter leaned back.
"Maybe nothing."
But Madison knew better.
The baby incident had interrupted the signing.
Ethan had not just saved Noah.
Without knowing it, he had stopped Madison from giving Blake control of the company.
At home, Blake was waiting.
"Where were you?"
"With my father."
His expression remained calm.
"What did he tell you?"
"That you're stealing from the company."
Blake laughed.
"Your father is paranoid."
"That the documents would give you my voting rights."
"Temporarily."
"Automatically renewable."
Now Blake stopped smiling.
Madison felt something inside her settle.
For months, she had wondered whether she was too anxious.
Too tired.
Too sensitive.
Suddenly, she saw the pattern.
Every time she questioned him, Blake made her question herself.
"You used Noah," she whispered.
His eyes narrowed.
"No."
"You left him in that car because you needed me inside signing those papers."
"I made a mistake."
"You made a choice."
Blake stepped closer.
"Do not confuse a bad morning with betrayal."
Madison picked up Noah's diaper bag.
"I'm taking my son to my father's house."
Blake blocked the doorway.
For the first time, Madison was not afraid of his anger.
She was afraid of how calm he looked.
May you like
Then Blake said something she would never forget.
"You leave this house, and tomorrow everyone will hear that you were the one who left Noah in that car."
