Chapter 8: The Night the Restaurant Went Dark
"Stop the transfer.""
Tessa didn't raise her voice.
She didn't need to.
Nora immediately stepped away from the desk and called the bank's fraud department.
Miles rushed toward her.
"Don't do that!""
Nora turned her back.
"Yes, I'm reporting a disputed transaction.""
Miles grabbed his phone.
"You're making a huge mistake, Tessa.""
She looked at him.
"That's becoming a familiar sentence.""
He paced across the office.
"That money is already committed.""
"To what?""
"Business expenses.""
"Which ones?""
He didn't answer.
Vanessa opened her portfolio again.
"Mr. Carter, I want the name of the company receiving that $48,000.""
Miles ignored her.
Tessa glanced at Nora.
"Can the bank put a hold on the transaction?""
"They can review it. I can't promise the outcome until they confirm the account status.""
"Proceed.""
Miles shook his head.
"You can't just freeze every account connected to this restaurant.""
"I'm not freezing legitimate business operations. I'm asking the bank to review a disputed payment.""
"You're trying to shut me down!""
Tessa looked at him.
"You're the one moving money without authorization.""
The office door opened.
The restaurant manager, Darnell Price, entered.
He was a forty-six-year-old Black man with a neatly trimmed beard and a white chef's jacket beneath his black blazer.
He looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Carter, we have a problem.""
Miles spun around.
"What now?""
"The food distributor just called. They aren't releasing tomorrow's delivery.""
"Why?""
"They haven't received payment.""
Miles pointed at the door.
"Tell them the payment is being processed.""
Darnell looked at Nora.
"That's what I told them. They said they've been waiting for three weeks.""
Miles's expression darkened.
"Then tell them to wait another day.""
Darnell didn't move.
"They're also asking for the outstanding balance on the equipment.""
Tessa looked up.
"How much?""
"Forty-one thousand, two hundred dollars.""
Miles rubbed his forehead.
"Not now, Darnell.""
Darnell looked at Tessa.
She recognized the expression in his eyes.
He wasn't asking for help because he wanted to take sides.
He was asking because people depended on this restaurant.
The kitchen staff had left other jobs to work here.
Servers had rearranged their schedules.
Some had childcare arrangements tied to the restaurant's opening hours.
They were not responsible for what Miles had done.
"How many employees are scheduled tomorrow?"" Tessa asked.
"Twenty-three.""
"How much payroll is outstanding?""
Darnell glanced at Miles.
"About nineteen thousand.""
Tessa nodded.
"Send the payroll information to Nora. We'll verify the amounts and make sure legitimate employee wages are handled properly.""
Miles stepped forward.
"With what money?""
Tessa looked at him.
"Not with unauthorized transfers.""
Darnell nodded.
"Thank you.""
He turned to leave.
Then he stopped.
"There's something else.""
Tessa waited.
Darnell glanced at Miles.
"Two weeks ago, Mr. Carter told me the restaurant would be transferred into a new company after opening. He said the original investors would no longer have anything to do with the operation.""
Tessa looked at Miles.
"Did he mention my company?""
Darnell nodded.
"He said you were getting divorced and wanted to walk away.""
Miles's face hardened.
"Darnell, go back to the kitchen.""
Darnell didn't move.
"I also have the staff schedule and the vendor correspondence. I thought Ms. Carter should know because several employees were told their positions might change after the transfer.""
Tessa thanked him.
Darnell left.
Vanessa looked at Miles.
"You're telling people the business is changing ownership before the transaction has even closed?""
"I was planning ahead.""
"You were planning to misrepresent the ownership.""
Miles slammed his phone onto the desk.
"Everybody needs to stop acting like I'm some criminal!""
The room fell silent.
Tessa studied him.
For the first time, she could see the difference between the man she had married and the man standing in front of her.
The first had dreams.
The second had learned how to use those dreams to excuse almost anything.
Her phone vibrated.
Nora had sent her a message.
Bank has acknowledged the disputed payment. Review initiated. No final determination yet.
Tessa exhaled.
"Good.""
Miles pointed at her.
"You're going to regret this.""
She picked up her clutch.
"I already regret something.""
He looked at her.
"Marrying you.""
The words came out before she could soften them.
Miles went still.
Sienna, who had remained near the hallway, lowered her eyes.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Miles laughed.
"You don't mean that.""
Tessa looked at him.
"I do.""
He stepped closer.
"You think you can replace me? You think you can walk away and leave me with nothing?""
"You have a restaurant.""
"Not without your money!""
"Then perhaps you should have appreciated the money.""
Miles shook his head.
"You always wanted to control me.""
Tessa looked at the marble desk.
The leather chairs.
The custom cabinets.
Every expensive detail he was standing beside.
"I never wanted to control you, Miles. I wanted to build something with you.""
She paused.
"You mistook my generosity for permission.""
Vanessa checked her watch.
"I need to leave. My attorney will contact you tomorrow.""
Tessa nodded.
Vanessa extended her hand.
"Ms. Carter, if you're willing, I'd like to discuss the possibility of a legitimate investment structure once the financial review is complete.""
Miles looked up sharply.
"Are you serious?""
Vanessa ignored him.
Tessa considered the offer.
"I'll review it with my legal and financial teams. No promises.""
"That's all I'm asking.""
Vanessa left.
Nora followed her into the hallway to make a few calls.
That left Tessa, Miles, and Sienna inside the office.
Sienna finally broke the silence.
"Miles, we need to talk.""
He turned toward her.
"Not now.""
"You told me we were going to build something together.""
"We will.""
"With what money?""
He glared at her.
"Stop asking stupid questions.""
Sienna's face tightened.
"You told me I would be part of the restaurant.""
"I said I'd take care of you.""
"Then why is my apartment listed in these records?""
Miles stepped toward her.
"Because you're making everything worse!""
Sienna backed away.
"Don't talk to me like that.""
Tessa watched them argue.
She had once imagined what it would feel like to catch her husband cheating.
She had expected anger.
Maybe tears.
Maybe a confrontation.
She hadn't expected to feel so detached.
The two people who had laughed at her humiliation were now arguing over the money that had paid for their comfortable lives.
Tessa walked toward the door.
Miles called after her.
"Where are you going?""
"Home.""
"We're not finished.""
She turned.
"You're right.""
She held his gaze.
"We're not finished with the financial review.""
Then she left.
Outside, the valet brought her car around.
Tessa sat behind the wheel and looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror.
Her hair was still stiff from the dried wine.
She had a stain across her collar.
Her wedding ring remained on her finger.
She removed it and placed it in the center console.
Then she drove home.
At 1:17 a.m., her phone rang.
It was Nora.
"Tessa, I'm sorry to call so late.""
"What's wrong?""
"The bank confirmed the $48,000 transfer was placed under review. But I found something else in the management company's records.""
Tessa sat up.
"What?""
Nora hesitated.
"There's a personal loan secured against the restaurant's equipment.""
Tessa frowned.
"Who authorized it?""
"That's the problem. The lender's documents list you as a guarantor.""
Tessa's stomach tightened.
"I never guaranteed a loan.""
"I know.""
"How much?""
"Two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.""
Tessa stared into the darkness.
Nora continued.
"The loan was issued last month. And according to the agreement, the lender has the right to claim certain restaurant equipment if the debt isn't serviced.""
Tessa pressed a hand against her forehead.
"Who received the loan proceeds?""
Nora took a breath.
"Most of the money went into Carter House Management LLC. But the remaining $83,000 was transferred to a different account.""
"Whose?""
Nora lowered her voice.
"Andre Williams.""
Tessa closed her eyes.
Her brother hadn't simply accepted consulting fees.
He might have been involved in a much larger financial arrangement.
"Send me everything," she said.
"I will.""
The call ended.
Tessa sat motionless.
Then another notification appeared.
An email from the lender.
*NOTICE OF DEFAULT — GUARANTEED BUSINESS LOAN.*
The message stated that the borrower had failed to make the required initial payment.
The lender was requesting immediate verification of the guarantor's signature.
Tessa opened the attached agreement.
Her name appeared beneath the guarantee.
But this time, there was another signature beside hers.
Andre's.
And below the signatures was a clause stating that both parties had personally guaranteed the debt.
Tessa stared at the document.
Then she called Nora again.
"Don't let anybody delete those records.""
"I won't.""
"Tomorrow morning, we're going to find out exactly who signed my name.""
She ended the call.
But as she placed the phone on the nightstand, another message arrived.
This one came from Andre.
Sis, please don't trust Miles. He didn't tell me everything either. I think he used both of us.
Tessa read the message.
Then she noticed the attachment.
It was a photograph of a document.
A document with a handwritten note across the top.
May you like
If Tessa refuses to sign, use the backup authorization.
And underneath that note was Miles's signature.
