Chapter 9 - The Final Audit
By autumn, the federal investigation into Whitmore Capital was officially closed, and the final restitution checks were distributed to the victims of Grant’s corporate fraud.
I received a thick manila envelope from Eleanor’s office containing the final legal closure documents. Inside was a single certified copy of the amended trust charter, solidifying my sole, unassailable ownership of every property, account, and asset bearing the Beaumont name.
I sat at my desk in Manhattan, signing the final paperwork with a calm, deliberate rhythm. The ghost of my marriage was no longer a shadow; it was simply a closed chapter in a very long book.
My phone rang—an international number routing out of London.
"Miss Beaumont?" a crisp corporate voice asked.
"Speaking."
"This is the acquisition desk at Kensington & Co. We’ve been authorized to review the portfolio of commercial real estate holdings recently released from the Beacon Trust receivership. We understand you now hold primary title on the historic commercial blocks in downtown Hartford."
I leaned back in my leather chair, looking out over the bustling energy of Broadway.
"I do," I said evenly. "And what is Kensington's interest?"
"We’d like to make an offer on the entire portfolio—cash upfront, no contingencies."
I smiled, the memory of Grant’s desperate "temporarily illiquid" excuses flashing briefly through my mind before fading away into nothingness.
"Send the paperwork to Eleanor Pike," I instructed. "If your numbers match the real value of the properties, we can talk on Monday."
"Understood, Miss Beaumont. Thank you for your time."
May you like
The line went dead.
I set the phone down, closed the manila folder, and locked it inside my desk drawer.
