Grace shut her eyes for one second.
“Did Victor Hale ask you to hire her?”
“No.”
She waited.
Ethan corrected himself.
“He recommended her.”
“When?”
“Last year.”
“Before the fundraiser?”
Silence again.
Grace’s eyes opened.
“Ethan.”
“I met her briefly before.”
“How briefly?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters tonight.”
He cursed quietly.
“Victor arranged drinks with three consultants. Vanessa was one.”
“How long before she joined Calloway?”
“Two months.”
Grace looked at Rebecca.
She had heard enough.
“Where are the original Northstar agreements?”
“In my office.”
“Which office?”
“New York.”
“Where?”
“My private file cabinet.”
“Combination?”
He hesitated.
Grace almost laughed.
Even now.
Even with federal agents on his doorstep.
He still wanted leverage.
“Ethan.”
“Grace, I need you to come here.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“No, you don’t.”
His voice lowered.
“I never sent nineteen million to Harbor Crown.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
