The Buyer Was Already There
Chapter 07 - The Buyer Was Already There
Sebastian Ward, a private collector from London, sat near the head table with two attorneys and a secured transfer prepared for immediate release. Grant promised him clean title.
Sebastian had one condition.
The painting had to leave the hotel that night.
Daniel Price, the accountant, arrived through the service entrance carrying the original trust ledger. Claire had called him from the side room.
Grant tried to stop him near the ballroom doors.
“You are no longer authorized to discuss foundation accounts.”
Daniel looked at Claire holding Lily.
“I report to the chairwoman.”
Grant’s face hardened.
Claire took the ledger.
Grant whispered, “If you stop this publicly, the foundation will look incompetent.”
Claire glanced at the child in her arms.
A red mark had appeared on Lily’s palm where Grant struck her.
“The foundation can survive embarrassment.”
She looked at him.
“My daughter should never have been asked to.”
Then Claire walked toward the stage.
Grant followed because every path away from the truth now led through the same room.
As Claire approached the stage, she saw board members avoiding her eyes. Several had approved the gala catalog without checking the trust schedule. Others had relied on Grant because he spoke with the confidence of someone who assumed no one would ask to see the original pages.
Claire understood that Grant’s scheme depended on more than forgery.
May you like
It depended on respected people preferring convenience to verification.
That would have to change too.
