Chapter 5 - The Records He Thought No One Would Find
The first financial document appeared behind her.
It showed a series of payments from Winslow Urban Development to a consulting company registered under Sloane’s name.
Additional files followed.
There were inflated construction invoices, unauthorized loans, altered reports, and company funds redirected toward private expenses.
Quiet conversations spread through the ballroom.
Sloane looked at Blake.
“You told me those payments were legitimate executive bonuses.”
“Do not speak,” he said sharply.
Arden continued.
“Over the past three years, Mr. Winslow used investment funds provided through Fairchild-controlled partnerships to secure loans without proper authorization. He also approved payments for services that were never delivered.”
Another document appeared.
“Lenette Winslow signed four agreements as a witness. Corinne Winslow received marketing payments for campaigns that were never completed.”
Corinne immediately stopped her livestream.
It was already too late.
Thousands of viewers had watched Arden enter the ballroom, and many had recorded the broadcast.
Warren looked toward his wife.
“You told me the documents I signed were related to my medical payments.”
Lenette avoided his eyes.
Graham joined Arden onstage carrying a thick gray folder.
“One month ago,” he explained, “Mr. Winslow attempted to use shares connected to Fairchild Capital as security for an additional loan.”
Blake pointed toward Arden.
“She is my wife. Those shares are part of our marriage.”
Graham remained calm.
“The shares were placed in a protected family trust twelve years before your wedding. You have never had legal authority over them.”
The screen changed again.
A recording from Blake’s office began playing.
Blake appeared beside his chief accountant.
“Arden never studies the documents I give her,” the recorded Blake said. “Tell her the papers concern the house. She will sign them.”
The real Blake went completely still.
The accountant’s voice followed.
“What happens if she asks questions?”
“She will not. She trusts me.”
Arden watched the recording without moving.
The dishonesty hurt.
But the confidence in Blake’s voice hurt even more.
He had believed her trust was not a gift but a weakness he could use.
Sloane suddenly removed a small storage drive from her handbag.
“I have copies of additional meetings,” she said.
Blake turned toward her.
“You are making a serious mistake.”
“You were preparing to blame the payments on me,” Sloane replied. “I saw the messages you sent to the board.”
She faced Arden.
“He also asked a private consultant to create misleading personal reports about you. He wanted to argue that you should not be allowed to make important financial decisions.”
For the first time that evening, Arden’s voice almost failed her.
Blake had not merely planned to leave her.
He had planned to silence her and gain control over whatever assets he believed she possessed.
She rested one hand against the podium.
Then she looked directly at him.
“You believed my quiet nature made me easy to erase.”
Blake stepped forward.
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“I was under pressure. I made mistakes.”
“A mistake is forgetting an appointment. A mistake is choosing the wrong road. What you did required planning.”
