Chapter 7 - Charles Whitmore
Charles denied everything.
Grace confronted him privately.
“You paid Jason Reed.”
Charles stared.
“I invest in consultants.”
“For what?”
“Hospitality strategy.”
“Where are his reports?”
Silence.
“You introduced him to Eleanor.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He asked to attend the gala.”
“How did you know him?”
“Mutual contacts.”
“Which?”
Charles stood.
“This is insulting.”
Grace remained seated.
“Your aunt is missing, and the man who married her is trying to seize financial authority using documents connected to your company payments.”
Charles looked genuinely shaken.
Or very good at appearing shaken.
“I wanted him to distract her.”
Grace froze.
“From what?”
“The audit.”
There it was.
Charles admitted Eleanor had begun reviewing his hotel contracts.
He feared she planned to remove him as COO.
Jason had presented himself as someone who could help “soften” Eleanor.
“By seducing her?”
“I didn’t tell him to do that.”
“What did you tell him?”
“To become useful.”
Grace’s expression hardened.
“You paid a thirty-four-year-old man to manipulate your seventy-nine-year-old aunt.”
Charles looked away.
“I thought he’d charm her into backing off.”
“And if she married him?”
“That was never the plan.”
Grace almost believed him.
Until Leah obtained another transfer.
$1.5 million held in escrow.
Release condition:
Change of control event involving Eleanor Whitmore personal estate.
Charles had not merely paid for charm.
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He had bet on succession.
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