Chapter 6 - THE BUSINESS BUILT ON LIES
The next morning, I met Victoria with a folder of documents and a growing sense that my marriage had been built on secrets I was only beginning to understand.
She had already requested records connected to the failed company.
Its name was Meridian Import Solutions.
According to its registration documents, Sergey and Irina had been its original owners.
Sergey held a fifty-percent interest.
Irina held the other half.
The company had operated for eighteen months.
Then it dissolved.
At least, that was the official story.
Victoria placed a financial summary in front of me.
"Several investors have filed civil claims alleging that Meridian misrepresented how their money would be used."
I stared at the document.
"Are they accusing Sergey of fraud?"
"They're alleging financial misconduct involving the company. That doesn't establish your husband's personal liability, but it's serious."
I looked at the list of investors.
There were eight names.
One belonged to a retired teacher.
Another to a widower.
Two were small-business owners.
I thought about the people behind those names.
People who had worked hard and trusted someone with their savings.
"How much money is missing?"
Victoria turned a page.
"The claims total approximately $310,000, although we don't yet know how much was lost, repaid, or legitimately spent."
I felt sick.
"Three hundred and ten thousand dollars?"
She nodded.
"And that's separate from the secured and unsecured debts we've identified."
I stared at the papers.
"How could Sergey hide something this big?"
Victoria's expression softened.
"People sometimes conceal financial trouble because they're ashamed. Others conceal it because they know they're doing something wrong. We need evidence before deciding which applies here."
I nodded.
But deep down, I knew one thing.
Whatever Sergey's intentions had been, he had allowed me and Liza to live inside a lie.
That afternoon, I received an unexpected call.
The woman introduced herself as Margaret Ellis.
She was sixty-four years old.
A retired elementary school teacher.
Her name was on the investor list.
"I hope you don't mind me calling," she said.
"How did you get my number?"
"Your attorney contacted mine. I asked whether you'd be willing to speak."
I hesitated.
Then I agreed.
We met at a quiet coffee shop near the library.
Margaret was a small woman with silver hair and kind eyes.
She carried a worn leather handbag.
When she sat down, she looked nervous.
"I don't want to make your life harder," she began.
"Then why did you want to meet?"
She folded her hands.
"Because I think your husband may have been lied to as well."
I stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
Margaret explained that she had invested $42,000 in Meridian after attending a presentation hosted by Irina.
The company promised to import medical supplies at wholesale prices and distribute them to small clinics.
The proposal appeared legitimate.
There were contracts.
Supplier documents.
Projected revenues.
And professional-looking financial reports.
For several months, Margaret received updates.
Then the payments stopped.
When she asked questions, Irina claimed there were shipping delays.
Later, Sergey told her the company was restructuring.
Finally, both stopped responding.
"I lost almost everything I'd saved for retirement," Margaret said quietly.
I felt my throat tighten.
"I'm so sorry."
She shook her head.
"You didn't do this."
I looked at her.
"Why do you think Sergey was lied to?"
Margaret opened her handbag.
She removed a folded document.
"Because I found something in the paperwork they sent me."
She slid it across the table.
It was a copy of an internal payment authorization.
Irina's signature appeared at the bottom.
Beside it was another signature.
I recognized the name immediately.
Valentina Ivanovna.
"Why would Sergey's mother be signing company payment authorizations?"
Margaret looked at me.
"That's what I wanted to ask you."
I stared at the document.
The payment was for $86,000.
The recipient was a consulting company called Harbor Crest Advisory.
I had never heard of it.
But the transaction date caught my attention.
It was the same week Sergey had told me his commission check was delayed.
The same week I had used my emergency savings to pay our bills.
I looked up.
"Do you know who owns Harbor Crest Advisory?"
Margaret nodded.
Her expression was grim.
"That's the part you need to see."
She handed me a second page.
It was a business registration record.
The listed manager was a woman named Elena Morris.
I didn't recognize the name.
But the mailing address was familiar.
It was the address of Valentina's country house.
I stared at Margaret.
"Are you saying my mother-in-law controlled the company receiving the money?"
"I'm saying the address connects them. My attorney is investigating whether the business was used to divert investor funds."
I felt cold.
Sergey had blamed Irina.
Irina had blamed the economy.
Valentina had claimed she was an innocent mother trying to help her children.
But now a substantial payment had apparently traveled to a company connected to her property.
I thanked Margaret and returned to my car.
Before starting the engine, I called Victoria.
"I have something you need to see."
She listened carefully.
Then she said:
"Send me copies. We should also determine whether the investigators handling the investor complaints have this information."
I looked through the windshield.
Rain had begun falling.
"Victoria, what if Valentina was involved from the beginning?"
"We'll follow the records."
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated.
A text message from an unknown number appeared.
STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HARBOR CREST. YOUR DAUGHTER HAS ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITHOUT YOU MAKING MORE.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Someone knew what I had discovered.
And now they were bringing Liza into it.
