And she said nothing about financing the project. Just smiled and changed the subject like it was no big deal.
Which it wasn’t. No one should have that much riding on their shoulders.
Chase looked at the screen. “My question is why? Usually, a city will put this out to bid. Hire a big firm. Not a single contractor.”
That was odd, now that Finn thought about it. How did she get this job?
“Check out projects in South Carolina. That’s where she moved from,” Finn suggested.
Dex nodded and got to work. “This might take a little digging.” His fingers flew over the keyboard. Occasionally, he grunted or chuckled.
Finn was getting impatient. Hated waiting. Always had. Now, too many thoughts were running through his mind.
Why didn’t she tell him?
“Ha.” Dex leaned back. “Okay, I opened a few contractor databases, cross-referenced her name with development permits and…”
Finn and Chase stared at the computer.
Harper & Cummings Revitalization Partners.
The screen filled with news articles and public notices. At first glance, he saw the award nominations, press clippings, ribbon cuttings. Headlines filled with names and smiling faces.
And then …
A headline buried beneath the accolades. It stole the breath from his lungs.
“Charleston developer faces financial fallout after partner disappears amid allegations.”
Dex clicked it open. Then another and another.
Article after article loaded, mostly about a half-finished project.
The fallout. The betrayal. The cleanup.
Then, they saw a picture of a smiling Lainey in front of a half-finished building. The headline: “Project halted indefinitely.” Her picture was obviously taken months before the collapse.
“Damn,” Chase muttered.
Dex read aloud. “Richard Cummings, co-founder of HCRP, is currently unavailable following allegations of misappropriated funds tied to a stalled restoration project.”
Dex kept reading. “Lainey was listed as the sole proprietor but wasn’t charged.” He looked closer. “She personally reimbursed the subcontractors.”
Finn’s stomach dropped.
She had put everything on the line. Lost everything. And yet still paid others out of her own pocket.
No wonder she wasn’t asking for help.
Because the last time she did, the man she trusted betrayed her.
And the time before that?
She trusted him, too.
And he’d left her.
Sure, he could tell himself it was the right thing to do at the time. That Lainey was better off without him. He didn’t know where he was going to end up. And Lainey had dreams, potential. He stepped aside, thinking he was giving her room to fly.
