Chapter 3 - The Scapegoat
I unlocked the deadbolt and pulled the door open.
Tessa stumbled inside, clutching a bloody tissue to her split lip.
The designer green dress she had worn just hours ago was torn at the shoulder.
"Lock it," she sobbed, collapsing into one of the dining chairs.
"Please, lock the door before he finds me."
I stared at the woman who was supposed to be my replacement.
"How did you know we were here?" I demanded, standing between her and my children.
"I saw the address on Natalie's notepad when Grant's mother was yelling at you," Tessa confessed, shivering violently.
"Grant went crazy when his credit card was declined at the hotel."
"He hit me, Mara."
"He said everything was ruined and that his bosses were going to kill him."
Natalie stepped forward, her lawyer instincts taking over.
"What bosses?" Natalie asked sharply.
"Grant owns his own consulting firm."
Tessa shook her head, tears streaming down her bruised face.
"He doesn't own anything."
"He's a money launderer for the Vargas syndicate."
"The investment property wasn't real estate."
"It was a front to wash five million dollars, and now the money is stuck."
My blood ran completely cold as the true scale of Grant's deception crashed over me.
"Why are you telling us this?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Tessa reached into her ruined dress and pulled out a folded, bloodstained document.
"Because he's not taking the fall," she whispered, handing it to me.
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"He forged your signature on all the corporate filings."
"According to this, Mara, you are the CEO of the shell company."
