Chapter 5 - THE MONEY BEHIND THE AFFAIR
Sloane Mercer had not entered Callum's life by accident.
She had been introduced to him through a private investment adviser named Victor Halden.
Halden specialized in distressed real estate.
He also had a reputation for arranging transactions that were technically complicated and ethically questionable.
Sloane worked as a public relations consultant.
She was intelligent, ambitious, and accustomed to moving among wealthy men who believed discretion could be purchased.
When Halden introduced her to Callum, he described her as someone who could help improve the Voss organization's public image.
Callum had been flattered.
Then attracted.
Then careless.
But Sloane had another reason for getting close to him.
Halden had promised her a percentage of the profits from a planned redevelopment deal.
The deal involved transferring several Bellwether properties into a private investment structure.
If completed, the properties could be sold at a substantial profit.
But the transaction required approval from the trust's controlling beneficiary.
Rosalind.
Callum had repeatedly assured Halden that Rosalind would sign whatever he placed in front of her.
He had been wrong.
At Eleanor's house, Beckett spread financial documents across the dining table.
Rosalind studied them.
The transfers were complicated.
But the pattern was clear.
Money intended for affordable housing had been redirected into consulting fees, temporary loans, and related-party transactions.
Some of the payments led to companies connected to Halden.
Others led to an account associated with Sloane.
Rosalind looked up.
“How much?”
Beckett hesitated.
“Potentially several million.”
She closed her eyes.
The housing project was supposed to help families who had been displaced by rising rents.
Now its funding was being used to support a scheme that could destroy the project entirely.
Rosalind looked at Gideon.
“What do we do?”
He answered carefully.
“We preserve the records. We involve independent counsel and auditors. And we report anything that appears unlawful.”
She nodded.
Then looked at Beckett.
“Can the project survive?”
He considered.
“If we stop the transfers and restructure the financing, possibly.”
Rosalind stared at the papers.
Then said:
“Then that's what we do.”
Piers arrived later that evening.
He found his mother at the dining table, surrounded by documents.
“Mom.”
She looked up.
He sat beside her.
“You've been working all day.”
“So have you.”
He smiled faintly.
“I'm a doctor.”
“And I'm your mother.”
He laughed.
Then grew serious.
“Are you okay?”
Rosalind considered.
“No.”
Piers nodded.
She continued.
“But I will be.”
He took her hand.
May you like
For the first time since the gala, Rosalind felt something stronger than humiliation.
Purpose.
