Page 43 of The Marriage Bid
“What article?” Aunt Pamela added a spoonful of sugar to her already sweet cup and took a sip.
“The one about the Hawthorne bribing scandal. It was all over the news, but I guess you might not have heard of it. Everyone in real estate circles was talking about it.” After Tyler’s promise to sign the papers if I could give him what he wanted, I went to work looking for who could be blackmailing him. I went through all of Dad’s contacts that I was aware of, looking for who he could have trusted with the information, and pretty much came up empty. The only people I could think of who were close to my father were his sister and his last wife, Collina. And judging by how that relationship was, I doubt the wife knew anything, but maybe his sister did.
“Bribing. That sounds serious.” She held her teacup with dainty fingers in a manner that I’m sure Buckingham Palace would approve of.
“I think it’s all fake.”
“Is it?”
“Crazy, isn’t it? I was sure that since Dad died, all of that would be over, but apparently, he must have given the information to someone else, who is now leaking it. Why? I have no idea.”
“How’s Tyler treating you at work? It must be odd working with your husband.”
“How did you know I was working with him?” I made a deliberate effort not to mention Tyler to her.
She scoffed. “You told me, remember?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You must have forgotten. You’ve been so busy at work. But yeah, you mentioned you’re working on his hotel. How else would I know if you didn’t?”
My mind was scrambling, and now I wasn’t so sure of myself. “You’re right. I’ve been too busy.”
“You’re overworking yourself. If only you’d agree to take him to court.”
I sighed. “We’ve had this conversation before.”
Aunt Pamela reached for the cannoli I had brought. Paired with her tea, the pastries were usually a treat, but I couldn’t stomach them today. I spent most of the past week trying to look for information on who could be holding the material as well as juggling a job that was getting more hectic by the day, now that supplies were coming in and needed to be fitted. My go-to meal was mainly fast food and pastries that I was now all full on.
“I know. I know,” Aunt Pamela said before biting into the cannoli. “But think of how much money he has accumulated all the years he’s been married to you. You deserve it. It’s yours.”
I shook my head. “It wouldn’t be right. He has been shackled to me. It’s only right that we end it amicably. And besides, I don’t think the pre-nup would allow it.”
“You can challenge the pre-nup.”
“What I want to do is find out who has Dad’s info. Is it his executor? I spoke to Bill, and he sounded like he knew nothing about it. Unless he was lying.”
Aunt Pamela broke apart the dessert, globs of cream falling to her plate, and casually popped a piece into her mouth as though this was a casual Saturday meeting. As though we weren’t discussing anything important.
“You know I never got into your father’s business. He never told me anything.”
“But he must have mentioned something about some material to do with Tyler, or something.”
“What does it matter? You’re divorcing him, are you not?”
“Yes, but…” This was one of the attitudes I didn’t like in Aunt Pamela. She could be a little too casual about the most serious things and not care to be concerned about anything beyond her comfort.
“You care an awful lot about a man who seemingly doesn’t care about you.”
“We’re working together. The least I can do is help him out. It would bring me into his good graces and might not make the divorce difficult for me.”
“Hmm…” She took another sip and put down her teacup. “Well, I wish I had any idea. You know how it was with me and your father. He never confided in me.”
I knew she was a dead end, but I had to try anyway.
Chapter 21
Tyler
