There it was.
Dad had manipulated her.
But three weeks before the wedding, Claire knew I had never threatened anyone.
And she still let me believe I meant nothing.
I closed the laptop.
Natalie whispered, “I’m sorry.”
I stood.
“Send me everything.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going home.”
“That’s it?”
I checked the time.
12:07 a.m.
“No. I have meetings tomorrow.”
***
By nine the next morning, Ryan had called seventeen times.
At 9:22, he appeared in the lobby of my Stamford office.
I told security to send him up.
He walked in looking like he hadn’t slept.
“Claire told me what happened.”
“I was there.”
“You know what I mean.”
He sat without being invited.
“Ethan, we need to separate family emotions from business.”
“Agreed.”
Relief flashed across his face.
“So the guarantee—”
“Will not be renewed.”
His relief disappeared.
“You just said—”
“I said we should separate emotion from business. From a business perspective, your debt ratio is terrible, two projects are behind schedule, and your largest client is disputing an $80,000 change order.”
Ryan stared at me.
“How do you know about that?”
“I guaranteed your credit.”
He rubbed his face.
“If the bank pulls the line, I’m finished.”
“No. You’ll have to refinance.”
“Nobody will refinance without more collateral.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
His expression hardened.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“No.”
