Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN FROM ACCOUNTING
Natalie was not the only person from Derek’s company who contacted Laura.
A woman from accounting named Jenna did too.
She had worked there for seven years.
At first, she wanted anonymity.
Then she learned about the hidden accounts.
Jenna agreed to speak.
What she revealed changed the case again.
Some of Derek’s secret money came from bonuses.
But several deposits came from reimbursements and expense adjustments that required further explanation.
Laura immediately warned me not to jump to conclusions.
“This may be legitimate.”
But Derek’s employer began reviewing the transactions.
For the first time, his personal battle with me threatened his professional reputation.
He blamed me instantly.
You’re trying to destroy my career.
I did not reply.
Then another message.
Emily will someday know what you did to her father.
That one hurt.
I pictured a teenage Emily reading court documents.
Hearing two versions of our marriage.
Wondering which parent had lied.
The thought terrified me.
Rachel found me crying in the laundry room.
“What happened?”
I showed her.
She read the message.
Then she sat on the floor beside me.
“You know what Emily will actually know?”
I shook my head.
“That her mother stopped accepting things she didn’t want her daughter to normalize.”
I wiped my face.
“What if she hates me for leaving?”
“Maybe someday she’ll be angry.”
Rachel shrugged.
“Kids get angry.”
“That doesn’t mean you should build your life around preventing every future emotion.”
I looked at her.
“When did you get so wise?”
“I’m older.”
“By four years.”
“Ancient.”
I laughed.
It was the first time I had laughed that day.
Three weeks later, Derek’s employer placed him on administrative leave pending review.
The issue was not the dinner.
Not our divorce.
Not even the hidden marital accounts.
It involved irregular expense documentation.
Derek called from a blocked number.
I answered by mistake.
His voice exploded through the speaker.
“What did you do?”
I almost dropped the phone.
“Do not call me directly.”
“You called my company.”
“No.”
“You ruined me.”
“No.”
“You think Rachel is going to support you forever?”
My heart began pounding.
“You think your little job will pay for lawyers and childcare?”
I hung up.
Then I called Laura.
Then I saved the call log.
A few minutes later, another voicemail arrived.
Derek sounded calmer.
Too calm.
“You need to fix this.”
He paused.
“Tell them you were confused.”
Another pause.
“Tell them the money was yours too.”
Then the sentence that changed everything.
“I moved it because you told me to.”
I stared at the phone.
May you like
He was not asking for reconciliation anymore.
He was asking for an alibi.
