Chapter 7: The Investor Who Wanted Her Money Back
"One hundred and fifty thousand dollars?""
Tessa repeated the amount while staring at Nora's tablet.
Nora nodded.
"The deposit was wired yesterday afternoon. The receiving account belongs to Carter House Management LLC. The bank confirmation shows Miles as the sole authorized signatory.""
Tessa slowly turned toward her husband.
"Where is the money?""
Miles adjusted his collar.
"It's being held for operational purposes.""
"Which operations?""
"Construction. Staffing. Inventory. There are a lot of expenses associated with opening a restaurant.""
Nora scrolled through the records.
"That explanation doesn't match the transaction history.""
Miles shot her an angry look.
"Nobody asked for your opinion.""
Tessa stepped closer to the tablet.
"Show me.""
Nora opened the account activity.
The $150,000 deposit had arrived at 2:14 p.m. the previous day.
At 2:47 p.m., $65,000 had been transferred to another account.
At 3:09 p.m., $32,000 had been withdrawn through a cashier's check.
The remaining balance was just over $50,000.
Tessa read the recipient names.
One was a personal investment account.
Another was a luxury apartment management company.
A third was a private financial services firm.
She looked at Miles.
"Why is investor money going into personal accounts?""
"Those are temporary placements.""
"Whose accounts?""
Miles said nothing.
Nora answered.
"Two accounts appear to be associated with Mr. Carter. The apartment payment appears connected to Ms. Brooks.""
Sienna looked up sharply.
"Wait. What?""
Miles turned toward her.
"Don't start.""
Sienna pointed at the tablet.
"You told me the apartment was paid for through your business!""
"It was.""
Tessa let out a quiet breath.
"His business was funded by my company.""
Sienna's face changed.
For the first time, she seemed to understand that the expensive life she had been enjoying was built on money that didn't belong to her boyfriend.
Miles moved toward the tablet.
"Give me that.""
Nora pulled it back.
"These are company records.""
"You work for Tessa, not me!""
"Exactly.""
Tessa's phone vibrated.
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
She answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice responded.
"Ms. Carter? My name is Vanessa Price. I believe we need to speak.""
Tessa glanced at Miles.
"You're the investor?""
"Yes. And I would appreciate an explanation regarding a transaction I made into your husband's company.""
"You're speaking to the right person.""
There was a pause.
"Are you at the restaurant?""
"Yes.""
"Good. I'm ten minutes away.""
The call ended.
Miles looked horrified.
"Why did you answer that?""
"Because she called me.""
"You shouldn't talk to her without me present.""
Tessa gave him a cold smile.
"Then you should have invited me to the negotiations.""
Ten minutes later, a black luxury SUV pulled up outside Carter House.
Vanessa Price entered wearing a charcoal suit and carrying a leather portfolio.
She was forty-four, confident, and clearly accustomed to being taken seriously.
She greeted Nora first.
Then she looked at Tessa's stained ivory jacket.
"Ms. Carter, I assume tonight hasn't gone as planned.""
Tessa shook her hand.
"Not exactly.""
Vanessa placed her portfolio on the desk.
"Before we discuss anything, I want to clarify that I believed I was investing in a business owned and operated by Mr. Carter.""
Miles stepped forward.
"That's exactly what we're doing.""
Vanessa didn't look at him.
"Please let me finish.""
She opened the portfolio.
"I received financial projections, ownership documents, vendor agreements, and a valuation report. I was told the restaurant had already received substantial capital investment from Mr. Carter.""
Tessa slowly nodded.
"How much?""
"Approximately six hundred thousand dollars.""
Miles looked away.
Vanessa continued.
"That was one of the reasons I agreed to the investment.""
Tessa turned toward her husband.
He was staring at the floor.
Vanessa removed a document.
"Now I understand that most of the renovation funding came from your company.""
"Correct.""
"And I understand that the ownership transfer was supposed to be finalized tomorrow morning.""
"Also correct.""
Vanessa leaned back.
"Then I have a problem.""
Miles finally spoke.
"Vanessa, this is a misunderstanding. Tessa and I are married. We've been working through some financial arrangements.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"You told me she had no ownership claim.""
"She doesn't.""
Nora quietly placed the contribution ledger on the desk.
"These records indicate otherwise.""
Vanessa studied the figures.
Her expression gradually hardened.
"You represented that the renovation was funded by your own capital?""
Miles shifted his weight.
"I managed the entire project.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Tessa watched Vanessa.
The investor had clearly come prepared to negotiate a deal.
Instead, she was discovering that the financial foundation of the business might be completely different from what she had been told.
Vanessa opened another document.
"I also want to understand this $150,000 deposit.""
Miles straightened.
"That's part of the investment agreement.""
"Yes. It was supposed to remain in escrow pending completion of the ownership transfer.""
Nora looked up.
"Do you have an escrow confirmation?""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"No. The funds were sent to the account specified in the instructions provided by Mr. Carter.""
Silence.
Nora looked at Tessa.
Tessa looked at Miles.
"You told her the money was going into escrow?""
Miles rubbed his forehead.
"I was arranging the account.""
Vanessa closed her portfolio.
"Mr. Carter, I want my money back.""
He stared at her.
"Vanessa, we can work this out.""
"No. I wired $150,000 based on representations that now appear to be inaccurate.""
"I have expenses!""
"Then explain the transfers.""
Miles opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Vanessa stood.
"I've contacted my attorney. No further ownership documents are to be signed until this matter is resolved.""
Tessa nodded.
"That's reasonable.""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"I also want to apologize. I had no idea you were the primary source of capital.""
Tessa appreciated the apology, but she was too tired to respond with anything more than a small nod.
Sienna had been standing silently near the door.
Now she spoke.
"Can somebody explain what's happening to the restaurant?""
Vanessa looked at her.
"That's a good question.""
Miles turned sharply.
"Sienna, stay out of this.""
But Sienna wasn't listening anymore.
She looked at the financial records.
Then at Miles.
"Did you use the money I received for the apartment from the investor deposit?""
Miles's jaw tightened.
"Not everything is about you.""
Sienna laughed bitterly.
"You told me you were going to put me on the restaurant's management team.""
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"Management team?""
Sienna turned toward her.
"He said I was going to be involved in the business.""
Vanessa looked at Miles.
"That was never included in our agreement.""
Tessa watched Sienna's expression collapse.
The woman who had laughed at her humiliation now realized she had been promised a position that didn't exist.
Miles walked toward the door.
"I'm done with this conversation.""
Tessa stepped aside.
"Go ahead.""
He stopped.
She continued.
"But don't forget to bring the financial records when you leave.""
He turned toward her.
"You think you've won?""
Tessa looked at him.
"No. I think I've finally seen the game.""
Vanessa gathered her portfolio.
"I'll be communicating with both of your legal representatives.""
She looked directly at Miles.
"And until I receive a satisfactory explanation, I expect the deposit to remain untouched.""
Nora's tablet chimed.
She read the notification and frowned.
Tessa noticed immediately.
"What is it?""
Nora turned the screen toward her.
A new transaction had just been initiated from Carter House Management LLC.
<text weight="medium" color="danger" inline>Amount: $48,000.</text>
The destination account was a private financial services company.
The status read: PENDING.
Tessa stared at the screen.
Miles was still standing in the doorway.
And when he saw the transaction, he made one fatal mistake.
He said, "That payment has nothing to do with you.""
Tessa slowly looked up.
"Then why is it coming from money that belongs to an investor you lied to?""
Miles had no answer.
But the transfer was still pending.
May you like
And Nora had only one question.
"Do you want me to contact the bank now?""
