Chapter 4: ## Chapter 4: The Woman He Paid to Disappear
I read Evelyn's: The Woman He Paid to Disappear
I read Evelyn's message so many times that the words began to blur.
*It wasn't used message so many times that the words began to blur.
It wasn't used to pay his employees.
It was used to buy me out.
Outside my to pay his employees.*
It was used to buy me out.
Outside my apartment windows, Manhattan glittered beneath the night sky. Cars moved along the avenue, their headlights sliding across the ceiling. Somewhere upstairs apartment windows, Manhattan glittered beneath the night sky.
Cars moved along the avenue, their headlights sliding across the ceiling. Somewhere upstairs, a neighbor laughed.
Ordinary sounds.
An ordinary night.
Except my husband was, a neighbor laughed.
Ordinary sounds.
An ordinary night.
Except my husband was on his way to Hawaii with his secretary, and another woman was telling me that the money I'd sacrificed to save his company had been used to make her disappear.
I typed a reply.
**What do you mean on his way to Hawaii with his secretary, and another woman was telling me that the money I'd sacrificed to save his company had been used to make her disappear.
I typed a reply.
*What do you mean, he bought you out?*
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appe, he bought you out?**
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Then my phone rang.
Evelyn Shaw.
I hesitated before answering.
“Hello?””
“Clara?”” A woman's voice came through, low and controlled.
“Thank you for answering.””
ared again.
Then my phone rang.
Evelyn Shaw.
I hesitated before answering.
“Hello?””
“Clara?”” A woman's voice came through, low and controlled.
“Thank you for answering.””
“I'm not sure why I should.””
“You shouldn't have to trust me. Not yet. But you deserve to know“I'm not sure why I should.””
“You shouldn't have to trust me. Not yet. But you deserve to know what Julian has been doing.””
I walked to the kitchen and sat down.
“Start with what Julian has been doing.””
I walked to the kitchen and sat down.
“Start with the money.””
Evelyn exhaled.
“Two years ago, Julian and I were engaged.””
I looked at the photograph on the money.””
Evelyn exhaled.
“Two years ago, Julian and I were engaged.””
I looked at the photograph on my laptop again.
Julian's hand rested against her back. He looked comfortable. Happy, even.
“He never my laptop again.
Julian's hand rested against her back. He looked comfortable. Happy, even.
“He never told me he was engaged to anyone else.””
“I'm sure he didn't.””
“Were you living together?””
“No. We had separate apartments told me he was engaged to anyone else.””
“I'm sure he didn't.””
“Were you living together?””
“No. We had separate apartments, but we were planning to get married. Julian said he wanted to build a company that could support the life we wanted.
I, but we were planning to get married. Julian said he wanted to build a company that could support the life we wanted. I believed him.””
Her voice caught slightly.
“We met through work. My family owns a small hospitality consulting firm. believed him.””
Her voice caught slightly.
“We met through work. My family owns a small hospitality consulting firm. Julian hired us to help with corporate events when his company was still struggling to find its footing. We spent a Julian hired us to help with corporate events when his company was still struggling to find its footing.
We spent a lot of time together. He was charming, ambitious, and very good at making people feel like lot of time together. He was charming, ambitious, and very good at making people feel like they were the only person in the room.””
I knew that version of Julian.
I'd fallen in they were the only person in the room.””
I knew that version of Julian.
I'd fallen in love with him.
“What happened?”” I asked.
“He borrowed money from me.””
“How much?””
“Sixty thousand dollars, love with him.
“What happened?”” I asked.
“He borrowed money from me.””
“How much?””
“Sixty thousand dollars, initially. He said a client had delayed payment and he needed to cover payroll. He promised to repay me within three months.””
My stomach tightened.
“He initially. He said a client had delayed payment and he needed to cover payroll. He promised to repay me within three months.””
My stomach tightened.
“He told me the same thing when I gave him forty thousand.””
“I suspected you might told me the same thing when I gave him forty thousand.””
“I suspected you might have helped him financially, but I didn't know the details until recently.””
have helped him financially, but I didn't know the details until recently.””
“Did he repay you?””
“Some of it. Then he asked for more. By the time I understood what was happening,“Did he repay you?””
“Some of it. Then he asked for more. By the time I understood what was happening, I had loaned him nearly a hundred and twenty thousand dollars.””
I gripped the edge of the counter.
“And you were still engaged?””
I had loaned him nearly a hundred and twenty thousand dollars.””
I gripped the edge of the counter.
“And you were still engaged?””
“Yes. Whenever I questioned him, he told me that our future depended on getting“Yes. Whenever I questioned him, he told me that our future depended on getting through the difficult period. He said once the company stabilized, we'd have nothing to worry about.””
I could through the difficult period. He said once the company stabilized, we'd have nothing to worry about.””
I could almost hear Julian saying those words.
Just give me a little time, sweetheart.
*We're building something almost hear Julian saying those words.
Just give me a little time, sweetheart.
We're building something together.
When this is over, I'll make it up to you.
“How did you find out he was lying?”” I together.*
When this is over, I'll make it up to you.
“How did you find out he was lying?”” I asked.
“I found an invoice from a company I had never heard of. Julian told me asked.
“I found an invoice from a company I had never heard of. Julian told me it was a consulting expense, but the money had gone into an account controlled by one it was a consulting expense, but the money had gone into an account controlled by one of his business associates. When I confronted him, he accused me of interfering in company matters.””
“And you ended the engagement?””
“I tried to of his business associates. When I confronted him, he accused me of interfering in company matters.””
“And you ended the engagement?””
“I tried to.””
Evelyn paused.
“He came to my apartment that night. He brought flowers, apologized, and promised to show me the company's accounts. I agreed.””
Evelyn paused.
“He came to my apartment that night. He brought flowers, apologized, and promised to show me the company's accounts. I agreed to give him one more chance.””
“What changed?””
“He asked me to sign a confidentiality agreement.””
I sat very still.
“He said to give him one more chance.””
“What changed?””
“He asked me to sign a confidentiality agreement.””
I sat very still.
“He said an investor had discovered irregularities in the company's books and that he needed to settle a private dispute before the investor withdrew. He offered to an investor had discovered irregularities in the company's books and that he needed to settle a private dispute before the investor withdrew. He offered to repay what he owed me if I signed an agreement confirming that I had no further financial repay what he owed me if I signed an agreement confirming that I had no further financial claims against him.””
“And you signed?””
“I was frightened. I wanted my money back, and I wanted to believe the man I loved hadn't deliberately deceived me.””
claims against him.””
“And you signed?””
“I was frightened. I wanted my money back, and I wanted to believe the man I loved hadn't deliberately deceived me.””
Her voice grew quieter.
“I signed. He transferred the money. I ended the engagement and walked away.””
“Then why are you contactingHer voice grew quieter.
“I signed. He transferred the money. I ended the engagement and walked away.””
“Then why are you contacting me now?””
“Because last night, Julian emailed me a proposed settlement agreement.””
I glanced at the document on my laptop.
“The post me now?””
“Because last night, Julian emailed me a proposed settlement agreement.””
I glanced at the document on my laptop.
“The postnuptial agreement?””
“No. That was attached to the same email. He wanted me to confirm that I had received anuptial agreement?””
“No. That was attached to the same email. He wanted me to confirm that I had received a payment from him two years ago and that the transaction had nothing to do with his marriage.””
“Why would payment from him two years ago and that the transaction had nothing to do with his marriage.””
“Why would he need you to confirm that?””
“Because the original transfer came from an account that wasn't supposed to be used for personal expenses.””
he need you to confirm that?””
“Because the original transfer came from an account that wasn't supposed to be used for personal expenses.””
I felt a chill travel down my arms.
“Whose account?””
“His company’s.””
The kitchen seemed to tiltI felt a chill travel down my arms.
“Whose account?””
“His company’s.””
The kitchen seemed to tilt.
“You're telling me Julian used company money to pay you?””
“That's what the bank records appear to show. He.
“You're telling me Julian used company money to pay you?””
“That's what the bank records appear to show. He claimed it was a legitimate settlement, but the transfer reference identified it as a vendor payment.””
claimed it was a legitimate settlement, but the transfer reference identified it as a vendor payment.””
I remembered the night Julian had called me from his office, his voice strained, asking for forty thousand dollars.
I remembered the night Julian had called me from his office, his voice strained, asking for forty thousand dollars.
He had told me his payroll account was nearly empty.
He had told me employees were depending on him.
I had transferred the money the followingHe had told me his payroll account was nearly empty.
He had told me employees were depending on him.
I had transferred the money the following morning.
I pressed my palm against my mouth.
“Why didn't you report him?””
“I considered it. But the morning.
I pressed my palm against my mouth.
“Why didn't you report him?””
“I considered it. But the agreement was complicated, and I didn't have enough documentation to prove what he'd done. I also believed that if I stayed out of his life, he would leave agreement was complicated, and I didn't have enough documentation to prove what he'd done. I also believed that if I stayed out of his life, he would leave me alone.””
“And now?””
“Now he's asking me to sign another document. He says the company is being reviewed by a me alone.””
“And now?””
“Now he's asking me to sign another document. He says the company is being reviewed by a potential investor, and he needs to clear up old transactions.””
I looked at the proposed agreement on my screen.
“Did you potential investor, and he needs to clear up old transactions.””
I looked at the proposed agreement on my screen.
“Did you sign it?””
“No.””
“Good.””
“Clara, there's something else. He asked me to meet him in Hawaii.””
I closed sign it?””
“No.””
“Good.””
“Clara, there's something else. He asked me to meet him in Hawaii.””
I closed my eyes.
“When?””
“Yesterday morning. He said he wanted to discuss the company's future in person. He told me my eyes.
“When?””
“Yesterday morning. He said he wanted to discuss the company's future in person. He told me you knew about the trip and had agreed to let him bring me.””
My fingers you knew about the trip and had agreed to let him bring me.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“You were the first person he asked to replace me on the reservation.””
“Yes tightened around the phone.
“You were the first person he asked to replace me on the reservation.””
“Yes.””
“Before Sienna.””
“Yes.””
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
.””
“Before Sienna.””
“Yes.””
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Were you and Julian still involved when he met me?””
“No.”” Evelyn“Were you and Julian still involved when he met me?””
“No.”” Evelyn answered firmly.
“Our engagement ended two years ago. I haven't had a romantic relationship with him since.””
“Did answered firmly.
“Our engagement ended two years ago. I haven't had a romantic relationship with him since.””
“Did he tell you he was seeing someone else?””
“He told me he was single.””
The answer hit me with a strange mixture of relief he tell you he was seeing someone else?””
“He told me he was single.””
The answer hit me with a strange mixture of relief and dread.
Julian had not necessarily been cheating on me with Evelyn.
But he had lied to her.
He and dread.
Julian had not necessarily been cheating on me with Evelyn.
But he had lied to her.
He had lied to me.
And he had used money to silence a woman who might have exposed him.
“Why did you agree to meet him in had lied to me.
And he had used money to silence a woman who might have exposed him.
“Why did you agree to meet him in Hawaii?”” I asked.
“I didn't. I told him I wouldn't sign anything without independent legal advice. Then I discovered that he had booked Hawaii?”” I asked.
“I didn't. I told him I wouldn't sign anything without independent legal advice. Then I discovered that he had booked travel arrangements using my name without my permission.””
I stared at the screen.
“What?””
“He submitted a travel arrangements using my name without my permission.””
I stared at the screen.
“What?””
“He submitted a reservation request with my information. I only found out because the resort contacted me to verify my arrival details.””
The three names in the booking history suddenly made sense.
Evelyn.
Sienna.
Me.
Jul reservation request with my information. I only found out because the resort contacted me to verify my arrival details.””
The three names in the booking history suddenly made sense.
Evelyn.
Sienna.
Me.
Julian had been trying to determine which woman would occupy the room beside him while keeping the same reservation andian had been trying to determine which woman would occupy the room beside him while keeping the same reservation and payment guarantee.
He hadn't made one mistake.
He had created several options.
“Evelyn,” I said, forcing payment guarantee.
He hadn't made one mistake.
He had created several options.
“Evelyn,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady, “do you have copies of the financial records?””
“I have my voice to remain steady, “do you have copies of the financial records?””
“I have bank statements, emails, and the original agreement. I haven't shared them with anyone.””
“Send them to me.””
“I can, but I need you to understand something. bank statements, emails, and the original agreement. I haven't shared them with anyone.””
“Send them to me.””
“I can, but I need you to understand something. If those records show what I think they show, this isn't just a relationship problem. It could become a serious If those records show what I think they show, this isn't just a relationship problem. It could become a serious financial and legal matter.””
“I understand.””
“Do you? Julian knows how financial and legal matter.””
“I understand.””
“Do you? Julian knows how to make people believe they're the ones behaving irrationally. He'll tell you that you're jealous, emotional, or confused.
He'll offer you just enough truth to make the rest of to make people believe they're the ones behaving irrationally. He'll tell you that you're jealous, emotional, or confused. He'll offer you just enough truth to make the rest of his lies sound believable.””
I looked toward the wedding photograph turned facedown on the table.
“He already has.””
“Then please don't confront his lies sound believable.””
I looked toward the wedding photograph turned facedown on the table.
“He already has.””
“Then please don't confront him without getting advice first.””
“I won't.””
After we ended the call, I sat at the kitchen counter until my phone screen went dark.
Then him without getting advice first.””
“I won't.””
After we ended the call, I sat at the kitchen counter until my phone screen went dark.
Then I opened my banking records.
The forty-thousand-dollar transfer appeared exactly where I remembered I opened my banking records.
The forty-thousand-dollar transfer appeared exactly where I remembered it. The payment had gone to Julian's company account, followed by a series of transactions I had never examined.
I downloaded it. The payment had gone to Julian's company account, followed by a series of transactions I had never examined.
I downloaded the statements.
I didn't understand every reference, but I recognized the dates.
My transfer had arrived the statements.
I didn't understand every reference, but I recognized the dates.
My transfer had arrived on a Tuesday morning.
By Wednesday afternoon, a payment of thirty-eight thousand dollars had left the account.
The recipient was a company called on a Tuesday morning.
By Wednesday afternoon, a payment of thirty-eight thousand dollars had left the account.
The recipient was a company called E.S. Consulting.
The initials matched Evelyn Shaw.
I stared at the screen.
Julian E.S. Consulting.
The initials matched Evelyn Shaw.
I stared at the screen.
Julian had told me the money would cover payroll.
Instead, nearly all of it had been transferred to the woman he had once intended to marry.
My phone had told me the money would cover payroll.
Instead, nearly all of it had been transferred to the woman he had once intended to marry.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Julian.
*We landed safely. The hotel situation is being handled. I hope you're vibrated.
A message from Julian.
We landed safely. The hotel situation is being handled. I hope you're ready to talk like an adult tomorrow.
I read it twice.
Not Are you okay ready to talk like an adult tomorrow.
I read it twice.
Not Are you okay?
Not I'm sorry I hurt you.
Not even I miss you.
He was still more concerned about?*
Not I'm sorry I hurt you.
Not even I miss you.
He was still more concerned about controlling the conversation than understanding why I'd left.
I typed a reply, then deleted it.
There was nothing I controlling the conversation than understanding why I'd left.
I typed a reply, then deleted it.
There was nothing I could say that would make him suddenly honest.
Instead, I forwarded my could say that would make him suddenly honest.
Instead, I forwarded my banking statements to a private email account and created a folder for every document Evelyn promised to send.
Then I called my father's longtime attorney banking statements to a private email account and created a folder for every document Evelyn promised to send.
Then I called my father's longtime attorney, Daniel Mercer, whose number I had saved years earlier.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Clara? It's late. Is everything all right?””
“No,” I said.
“And I need your advice.””
I explained the, Daniel Mercer, whose number I had saved years earlier.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Clara? It's late. Is everything all right?””
“No,” I said.
“And I need your advice.””
I explained the honeymoon reservation, the money, and the proposed postnu honeymoon reservation, the money, and the proposed postnuptial agreement.
Daniel listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he asked me to send the documents.
“Don't sign anything,” he said.
“Don't transfer any money. Don't delete messages. And don't letptial agreement.
Daniel listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he asked me to send the documents.
“Don't sign anything,” he said.
“Don't transfer any money. Don't delete messages. And don't let Julian persuade you to resolve this privately before Julian persuade you to resolve this privately before we've reviewed the records.””
“Do you think he committed fraud?””
“I think we need evidence before drawing conclusions. The transfers could we've reviewed the records.””
“Do you think he committed fraud?””
“I think we need evidence before drawing conclusions. The transfers could have explanations we haven't seen. But the attempt to get you to sign an agreement based on incomplete information have explanations we haven't seen. But the attempt to get you to sign an agreement based on incomplete information concerns me.””
“What should I do about the marriage?””
“That decision is yours. My job is to make sure you understand your position before you make it.””
I thanked him and ended the call.
For the first time that night, I felt a little less alone.
Then an concerns me.””
“What should I do about the marriage?””
“That decision is yours. My job is to make sure you understand your position before you make it.””
I thanked him and ended the call.
For the first time that night, I felt a little less alone.
Then an email arrived from Evelyn.
It contained a folder of documents, including the original confidentiality agreement and a spreadsheet listing payments from Julian's company.
I opened the spreadsheet.
email arrived from Evelyn.
It contained a folder of documents, including the original confidentiality agreement and a spreadsheet listing payments from Julian's company.
I opened the spreadsheet.
The first few entries matched what she had described.
Then I reached a transaction dated three weeks before my wedding.
A paymentThe first few entries matched what she had described.
Then I reached a transaction dated three weeks before my wedding.
A payment of seventy-five thousand dollars had been sent to a private account.
The recipient's name was unfamiliar.
But the payment reference made my blood run cold.
*CLARA BENNETT — PREMARITAL ASSET SETTLEMENT.*
I read it again of seventy-five thousand dollars had been sent to a private account.
The recipient's name was unfamiliar.
But the payment reference made my blood run cold.
*CLARA BENNETT — PREMARITAL ASSET SETTLEMENT.*
I read it again.
I had never received seventy-five thousand dollars.
I had never signed a settlement.
And I had certainly never agreed to let Julian use my name.
I had never received seventy-five thousand dollars.
I had never signed a settlement.
And I had certainly never agreed to let Julian use my name in a financial transaction.
I called Daniel back.
“There's another payment,” I said.
“It has my name on it.””
His in a financial transaction.
I called Daniel back.
“There's another payment,” I said.
“It has my name on it.””
His voice sharpened.
“Don't touch the account or contact the recipient. Send me the record immediately voice sharpened.
“Don't touch the account or contact the recipient. Send me the record immediately.””
I did.
A minute later, Daniel called again.
“Clara, I need you to look at the transaction.””
I did.
A minute later, Daniel called again.
“Clara, I need you to look at the transaction date carefully.””
“I am.””
“This payment was made before your wedding. If it was recorded as date carefully.””
“I am.””
“This payment was made before your wedding. If it was recorded as a settlement involving you, we need to know why.””
I looked at the spreadsheet.
Then at the wedding ring on the counter.
Jul a settlement involving you, we need to know why.””
I looked at the spreadsheet.
Then at the wedding ring on the counter.
Julian had been arranging things behind my back long before he brought Sienna to the airport.
And the most frightening part wasn't the money he had taken.
It wasian had been arranging things behind my back long before he brought Sienna to the airport.
May you like
And the most frightening part wasn't the money he had taken.
It was the fact that, somewhere in his company's records, he had already begun building a financial history in the fact that, somewhere in his company's records, he had already begun building a financial history in my name that I knew nothing about.
