The Brother Who Needed Money
Chapter 07 - The Brother Who Needed Money
Ryan laughed too loudly.
“That cuff link belongs to half the men in our family.”
“Only four sets were made,” Ethan said.
Ryan’s smile vanished.
He stepped into the apartment and closed the door.
“I didn’t touch Claire’s car.”
“Then why were you near it?”
“I wasn’t.”
Rosa moved toward the kitchen drawer.
“I took a picture.”
Ryan’s eyes followed her hand.
That was enough.
Ethan pushed his brother against the wall.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing!”
“Tell me before I forget you’re my brother.”
Claire pulled Ethan back.
Ryan straightened his coat, humiliated and angry.
“I needed money.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
“For what?”
Ryan looked away.
He had been gambling for nearly three years. At first, he had borrowed from friends. Then he had taken money from a Bennett development account, expecting to replace it after one large win.
Lauren discovered the missing funds.
She offered to make the problem disappear.
In return, Ryan gave her access codes, security schedules and Ethan’s electronic signature file.
“I thought she was moving money,” Ryan said. “I didn’t know she was hurting anyone.”
“You gave her my signature?”
“She said it was for internal approvals.”
Claire stared at him.
“You saw someone near my car.”
Ryan’s hands began to tremble.
“I saw a mechanic leaving the garage. Lauren told me he was fixing a sensor.”
“And you believed her?”
“I needed her to keep quiet.”
Rosa stood near the stove, disgusted.
“You rich people always say you didn’t know. But you make sure not knowing is comfortable.”
Ryan sank into a chair.
Ethan wanted him to go to the police immediately.
Ryan refused.
“If Lauren goes down, she’ll expose everyone. Mother. The company. You.”
“Me?”
Ryan looked at Claire.
“There are payments with Ethan’s name on them. Contracts. Transfers. Millions of dollars.”
“They’re forged.”
“Maybe. But the board won’t wait to find out.”
Ethan’s phone rang.
The Bennett board had called an emergency meeting.
By the time Ethan arrived, Lauren was already seated at the head of the table.
A photograph of Claire’s destroyed car was displayed on the wall.
May you like
Lauren looked at her brother with tears in her eyes.
Then she accused him of stealing foundation money and trying to murder his own wife.
