Chapter 3
“I am not sleeping on the street,” I said at once.
After getting used to a hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar mattress, how was I supposed to go back to a hard bench?
“Besides, do you think you can just sleep anywhere for free? You have to check. I looked it up. If you sleep in a car, even the lot under the south-side overpass charges for parking until eight.”
The room went silent.
The CFO stared at me, mouth open, his calculator forgotten in his hand.
Vanessa looked at me as though I were an idiot.
“Natalie Brooks, are you pretending, or do you actually not understand? If Whitmore goes bankrupt, you won't get a cent.”
“I'm not taking money from the company now,” I muttered. “If anything, I've put seventy-five hundred into this.”
No one heard me.
The conference-room door opened again. The board had arrived.
The white-haired man at the front was Walter Hayes, who'd helped Claire's father build the company for thirty years. He didn't look at Claire when he came in. He nodded to Julian first.
“Mr. Mercer. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Claire's expression went cold with hurt.
“Walter, what are you doing? You and my dad have worked side by side for thirty years.”
Walter sighed.
“Don't blame us, Claire. This company employs tens of thousands of people. Their families are waiting on those paychecks. We have to support whoever can keep it alive.
“Vanessa says that if she takes over, Mercer will inject the money. The company will survive. Signing is best for everyone.”
The shareholders behind him began agreeing.
“He's right. You have to save what you can.”
“You can earn back shares. You can't do much from a prison cell.”
“Have a little mercy on the rest of us.”
They talked over one another, every word supposedly for Claire's benefit, every word pushing her closer to the edge.
She stood perfectly straight.
I knew that posture. The more she was hurting, the straighter she stood. She wouldn't give outsiders the satisfaction of watching her crumple.
Vanessa smiled and added, “I'm not forcing you, Claire. This is just how things are.”
Before she could say more, Claire's phone rang.
She answered, listened for a few seconds, and went white.
“What do you mean, his condition's getting worse? ... Okay. I'll arrange it right away. Whatever treatment he needs. Don't worry about the cost...”
When she hung up, she was shaking so badly she could barely hold the phone.
Vanessa moved closer at exactly the right moment.
“The company handles the payments for Dad's private room and extra care, doesn't it? Those accounts are being frozen at midnight.”
The arguments had dragged on. Julian glanced at his watch and supplied the time.
“It's eleven now, Ms. Whitmore. You have one hour left.”
Claire closed her eyes.
I stood in the corner, gripping the copy of the payment confirmation. My palms were wet.
She couldn't sign.
I didn't understand most of that agreement, but I understood “without compensation.”
If she signed, she wouldn't get a penny.
“Um,” I said, unable to keep quiet. “Actually, the money for the project—”
“Natalie!” Vanessa cut me off. “Who gave you a say? You're a gold digger. What do you know about equity?”
“Nothing.”
I held up the confirmation.
“This says four hundred and fifty million went into that account. But I'm the one who made the payment, and I didn't—”
“Enough!” Walter snapped. “Stop making trouble. Security, take her outside.”
Two guards came toward me.
Claire's eyes flew open.
“Don't you dare touch her.”
She crossed the room and stood between the guards and me. Then she pulled a card from an inside pocket and pressed it into my hand.
It was still warm from her body.
“Nat, the PIN is your birthday.”
Her voice was very soft. She sounded as though she were saying goodbye for good.
“I might be paying this off for the rest of my life. Take this. At least you'll be comfortable.
“Eat whatever you want. The tasting menu, steak, anything. Just stop living on free samples.
“When you walk out, don't look back. Martha's waiting in the garage.”
I held the card tightly. My throat hurt.
“Claire, I actually—”
She turned away before I could finish and faced Vanessa.
“When I sign, you keep your word. You pay the hospital bills, and you leave Nat alone.”
Vanessa brightened. She laid the agreement in front of Claire.
“Of course. I always keep my promises.”
