Chapter 6 - THE COMPANY HAD BEEN DYING FOR NINE MONTHS
Adam finally showed me the business records.
Not voluntarily.
By then, I had moved Jerry and myself into Nate’s house for several nights and separated my personal finances from anything Adam could access without discussion.
I was not trying to punish him.
I no longer trusted his definition of temporary.
His company, Coleman Buildworks, had been struggling for nine months.
One hospital renovation ran over budget after a subcontractor failed.
A commercial landlord withheld payment over disputed work.
Adam’s partners had personally contributed money.
He had already used most of our joint emergency savings with my knowledge to cover a short-term business loan.
What I did not know was that the loan had not solved anything.
It bought six weeks.
Then Adam borrowed against his retirement plan.
Then a personal credit line.
Then he started selling Dad’s collection.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
We were sitting in Nate’s dining room.
Jerry was upstairs.
Adam looked exhausted.
“Because you would have said no.”
“Yes.”
“I have twenty-three employees.”
“Then tell your partners the truth.”
“They knew we were tight.”
“Did they know you were liquidating your son’s property?”
His face changed.
“No.”
“Did your accountant?”
“No.”
“Your attorney?”
“No.”
“Interesting.”
“Megan.”
“You only chose the solution that required nobody competent to approve it.”
That landed.
Adam looked away.
“I thought one project would close.”
“And then?”
“I’d buy the pieces back.”
“From collectors who bought them legally?”
“I would offer more.”
“With what money?”
“The project proceeds.”
The fantasy became clearer.
Everything depended on the next payment arriving.
Next closing.
Next client.
Next month.
Then all previous dishonesty would disappear.
That is how desperate people turn one terrible choice into a system.
I asked:
“Why the fake Chicago trip?”
He looked ashamed.
“Laura had premium seats through a client.”
“So you came to the game to discuss sales.”
“Yes.”
“And told us you were in Chicago.”
“I didn’t want Jerry seeing me with her.”
“Why?”
“Because she might mention the collection.”
There it was.
Adam was not hiding Laura.
He was hiding what Laura knew.
The Kiss Cam was almost comically unlucky.
Two people attending a football game for a business discussion.
Camera finds them.
Child sees father.
Keepsake catches the light.
Months of lies collapse in fifteen seconds.
I should have found that funny.
May you like
I did not.
Not yet.
