Chapter 3 - His Name Was Never There
Eleanor stood immediately.
“This is a family dinner.”
Thomas glanced at the ramen dripping from the table.
“So I see.”
Julian ignored her.
“What does Claire have you doing here?”
“Nothing unusual.”
Thomas opened the folder.
“I’m here because Mrs. Hayes requested certified copies of several property records.”
Julian looked at me.
“Why?”
I remained seated.
“You told me to leave your house.”
“So?”
“So I wanted everyone to understand exactly whose house I’d supposedly be leaving.”
Julian laughed.
“Claire, stop.”
Thomas removed a document.
The deed.
Julian reached for it.
Thomas kept his hand over the page.
“Before we continue, Mr. Hayes, I need to correct something.”
“What?”
“You have repeatedly described this residence as your property.”
“It is.”
“No.”
Julian stared at him.
Thomas continued.
“You are not an owner of record.”
Silence.
Eleanor laughed dismissively.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Thomas turned the certified deed toward them.
Julian searched the page.
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
His name wasn’t there.
“Where is my name?”
Thomas didn’t answer.
Julian looked at me.
“Claire.”
I folded my hands over my belly.
“You never bought this penthouse.”
“Yes, I did!”
“No.”
“We moved here after we got married!”
“Correct.”
“I signed paperwork!”
“A residency agreement.”
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Eleanor grabbed the deed.
There was an ownership entity listed.
Wellington Residential Holdings LLC.
Eleanor scoffed.
“See? Some corporation owns it.”
Thomas looked at her.
“Yes.”
Julian exhaled in relief.
Then Thomas added:
“And Mrs. Hayes controls that corporation.”
The relief disappeared.
Julian stared at me.
“You own Wellington?”
I smiled faintly.
“That’s one question.”
“One?”
Thomas closed the folder.
“There are several others your wife has decided not to answer tonight.”
Julian stepped toward me.
“What the hell have you been hiding?”
I stood carefully.
“Apparently not as much as your mother.”
Then Thomas looked toward Eleanor’s shopping bags.
“Speaking of which, Mrs. Hayes…”
Eleanor froze.
Thomas removed another document.
May you like
“…there is a separate matter involving purchases charged against an account connected to this residence.”
Eleanor’s face went pale.
