Chapter 5 - PHILIPPA'S PLAN
Claire did not go home that afternoon.
She and Aloan stayed in a furnished apartment owned by Bellmere Design Group for visiting executives.
Julia changed every company credential before sunset.
Claire’s attorney, Naomi Feld, joined them by video.
The forged consent was not enough to transfer ownership.
But it was enough to create confusion.
And confusion creates openings.
Two vendor contracts had already been signed using Sullivan’s supposed interim authority.
One involved renovation work at a property owned by Philippa.
Claire stared at the address.
Philippa’s lake house.
The contract was worth $184,000.
Bellmere Design Group was supposed to “advance renovation costs” under a private showcase partnership.
Claire had never approved it.
Julia had questioned it.
Sullivan replied that Claire wanted the project handled quietly as a family matter.
Naomi asked:
“Why would he risk this?”
Claire knew the answer before anyone proved it.
Philippa’s lake house was heavily mortgaged.
She had spent two years complaining about repairs and falling property value.
If Bellmere funded the renovation, Philippa could refinance or sell at a higher price.
Family rescue.
With Claire’s company paying.
Again.
Naomi’s investigation found more.
Philippa had been telling relatives Claire was suffering “postpartum instability.”
Sullivan had told one investor Claire could no longer handle “complex decisions.”
A draft email existed in Sullivan’s outbox:
For continuity, it may be safest if Claire’s voting authority remains temporarily delegated through Q2.
Claire read it twice.
Then asked:
“Did he forge the signature?”
Not yet provable.
The PDF had been created on the family desktop.
Both Sullivan and Philippa used it.
But one metadata field listed the author name:
P. Bennett.
Philippa.
Claire felt almost nothing.
That frightened her more than anger.
Naomi asked:
“What do you want to do?”
Claire looked at Aloan sleeping beside her.
“First, I want every company document preserved.”
“Done.”
“Second, I want a restraining order if the medication issue supports it.”
“We can pursue appropriate protective relief.”
“And third…”
May you like
Claire looked at the forged consent.
“I want Sullivan to explain why he thought making me look sick was easier than asking me for money.”
