Chương 6 - Evan Carlisle’s Real Interest
Evan did not deny it.
Not after Claire saw the message.
They parked beneath her apartment building.
She did not get out.
“How long?”
Evan loosened his tie.
“Claire.”
“How long have you known Gregory?”
“About two years.”
Claire laughed in disbelief.
“You told me you’d never met him.”
“I said I didn’t know him socially.”
“That is not the same sentence.”
“No.”
“What do you do for him?”
“I don’t work for Gregory.”
“Then why is he messaging you?”
Evan stared through the windshield.
Carlisle Capital specialized in distressed hospitality investments.
Claire knew that.
She had simply never connected it to her family.
After Gregory’s release, he approached Evan’s firm with information about Whitmore Hospitality’s old ownership structure.
He claimed valuable assets had been transferred improperly during the criminal investigation.
Including Bellamy House.
Including certain hotel shares.
Evan’s firm began quietly evaluating potential claims.
“And then you met me.”
Evan looked at her.
“Yes.”
Claire felt physically ill.
“Was that an accident?”
“At first.”
“Do not lie.”
He closed his eyes.
“No.”
The word hurt more than she expected.
Evan had met Claire at a charity gala.
He bumped into her near the bar.
Apologized.
Made her laugh.
Asked for her number.
For eleven months she believed it was random.
“You targeted me.”
“That sounds worse than it was.”
“There is no good version.”
“I wanted an introduction to Richard.”
“You could have called his office.”
“He would never take the meeting.”
“So you dated his daughter.”
Evan’s voice sharpened.
“I did not expect to fall in love with you.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
“I mean it.”
“So did Marcus.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
“Because Marcus actually used your family.”
Claire stared at him.
“You sound like Gregory.”
Evan looked away.
That told her enough.
“What does Carlisle Capital want?”
“If Gregory’s beneficial ownership claim is real, he may be entitled to part of the value transferred to Marcus.”
“Aurelia.”
“Not the restaurant operations. Possibly the underlying property interests.”
“And your firm finances the lawsuit.”
“Potentially.”
“For a percentage.”
“Yes.”
Claire sat back.
Every relationship in her life suddenly seemed attached to a spreadsheet.
“What do you need from me?”
“Nothing.”
“Wrong answer.”
Evan stayed silent.
Claire thought.
Her family trust still held voting shares in Whitmore Hospitality.
Claire personally owned seven percent.
“You wanted my shares.”
“No.”
“My support?”
He looked at her.
There.
“If Richard loses control of certain assets, Whitmore may need capital.”
“And Carlisle rides in.”
“We invest.”
“At distress prices.”
“That’s the business.”
Claire opened the door.
“Get out of my life.”
“Claire.”
“Out.”
“You rode with me.”
“Then I’m getting out.”
She stepped onto the parking level.
Evan followed.
“I love you.”
Claire turned.
“Maybe.”
He froze.
She continued.
“That’s what makes this worse. You keep acting like love and exploitation can’t occupy the same room.”
He stared at her.
Claire thought of her father.
Her mother.
Marcus.
Maybe that sentence described the entire Whitmore family.
She walked away.
In the elevator she called Marcus.
He answered after four rings.
“What?”
“I need to ask you about my grandfather’s ledger.”
Silence.
Then Marcus:
“Who told you about that?”
“Gregory.”
Another pause.
“Where are you?”
“My apartment.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Stay there.”
“Marcus—”
“I’m coming.”
Twenty-five minutes later he arrived.
No driver.
No bodyguard.
Same dark jacket.
Claire opened the door.
“Do you have it?”
Marcus looked at her.
“No.”
She searched his face.
“You’re lying.”
“No.”
“Then where is it?”
Marcus stepped inside.
“Your mother has it.”
Claire froze.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Six years.”
Claire thought of Helen’s locked desk.
The hidden letter.
Marcus continued:
“And if Gregory knows the ledger survived, your family has a much bigger problem than Bellamy House.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked toward the windows.
“Because the ledger doesn’t prove Gregory owned forty percent.”
Claire waited.
May you like
Marcus met her eyes.
“It proves he never owned any of it.”
