Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN HE CALLED USELESS
Cole spent Christmas Day trying to control the story.
He told his mother that I was having an emotional breakdown.
He told his friends that motherhood had made me unstable.
He told his business partner that I'd taken the children after a "minor marital disagreement."
By evening, he'd convinced himself that the photograph was not the real problem.
My reaction was.
Sierra Vaughn called him at six.
"Did Lauren see it?"
Cole stared at the city from his apartment window.
"Yes."
Sierra sighed.
"I told you to be careful."
"It was an accident."
"Well, fix it."
Cole's jaw tightened.
"She's being dramatic."
Sierra laughed.
"Then let her calm down."
He looked toward the empty nursery.
"She took the babies."
Sierra went quiet.
Then said:
"That's inconvenient."
Cole frowned.
"Inconvenient?"
"You know what I mean."
But something in her voice irritated him.
He'd spent the previous night telling Sierra how much he loved her.
Now, with his marriage collapsing, she sounded more concerned about the disruption than the consequences.
The next morning, Cole received an email from Ashford Capital's compliance department.
Mandatory review of executive expense reimbursements.
He frowned.
He had approved hundreds of reimbursements.
Business dinners.
Hotel stays.
Travel.
Consulting fees.
He forwarded the message to his assistant.
Handle this.
She replied minutes later.
The review is being directed by the board's audit committee. They require your personal response.
Cole stared.
Then his phone rang.
It was Thomas Ashford, the company's chairman.
"Cole. We need to talk."
"About what?"
"Your expense accounts."
Cole laughed.
"Thomas, it's Christmas week."
"I'm aware."
"Then this can wait."
Thomas's voice hardened.
"No. It can't."
Across town, I sat in Rebecca Sloan's office reviewing the financial documents Daniel had provided.
I was learning things about my marriage that I should have known years earlier.
Cole had claimed that our household finances were strained.
He'd said my spending needed to be controlled.
He'd criticized every grocery receipt.
Yet the records Rebecca had lawfully obtained showed substantial personal spending.
Luxury hotels.
Jewelry.
Private dining.
Travel.
Some expenses appeared to have been submitted through corporate accounts.
I stared at a hotel charge dated the night Lily had been admitted to the emergency department with breathing difficulties.
Cole had told me he was working late.
He had been with Sierra.
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
Rebecca waited.
Then asked gently:
"Do you need a moment?"
I shook my head.
"No."
I looked at the next statement.
"For three years, he told me I couldn't manage money."
My voice trembled.
"I have a degree in finance."
Rebecca looked surprised.
"You do?"
I nodded.
"Before the twins were born, I worked in investment analysis."
"Why did you stop?"
"Cole said it would be better for the family."
I stared at the documents.
"He said my career wasn't worth the cost of childcare."
Rebecca said nothing.
I swallowed.
"And then he made sure I couldn't afford to leave."
That afternoon, I received a message from Cole.
Come home. We can discuss this like adults.
I read it once.
Then handed the phone to Rebecca.
She nodded.
May you like
"We'll respond through counsel."
For the first time, Cole's demands did not require an answer from me.
