Chapter 7 - Malcolm Strikes BackBy Monday morning, Malcolm had filed suit against Everline Capital.
The complaint accused Sienna’s firm of abusing contractual discretion, interfering with Westbridge’s operations, and weaponizing commercial agreements because of a personal family dispute.
Malcolm wanted an emergency injunction requiring Everline to restore funding.
The headlines appeared within hours.
DEVELOPER SAYS EX-WIFE FROZE MILLIONS AFTER FAMILY ALTERCATION.
Sienna read the article once.
Then put her phone down.
Jonah looked furious.
“He leaked this.”
“Probably.”
“It makes us look like a family office run by revenge.”
“Then we answer with documents.”
“Publicly?”
“No.”
He blinked.
“No?”
“We have investors. We communicate directly with them. We do not litigate Nolan’s breakfast on the internet.”
“Sienna—”
“My son is three years old.”
Jonah exhaled.
“You’re right.”
“Prepare a factual investor memo. Financing was suspended under compliance provisions after transaction irregularities were identified. No discussion of the custody matter.”
“What if reporters ask?”
“No comment on a minor child.”
At the injunction hearing, Malcolm’s lawyers argued urgency.
Without funding, Westbridge’s Boston project could miss contractor payments.
Jobs were at risk.
Subcontractors were exposed.
Sienna hated that part because it was true.
Malcolm’s mistakes would not land only on Malcolm.
The judge asked Everline’s attorney one question.
“Why did you suspend financing?”
The attorney submitted the compliance notice.
Undisclosed related-party vendor.
Potential invoice splitting.
Private-residence expenses.
Possibly inaccurate representations.
The judge turned to Malcolm’s counsel.
“Can you represent that these concerns are factually baseless?”
His attorney hesitated.
“We dispute Everline’s interpretation.”
“That was not my question.”
“No, Your Honor.”
The emergency injunction was denied.
Malcolm did not look at Sienna as he left.
Outside, Claire met her.
“How did it go?”
“Everline keeps the suspension.”
“Good.”
Sienna shook her head.
“Not good.”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
“Westbridge has employees. Contractors. People who didn’t shove Nolan’s face toward a bowl.”
“You’re allowed to care about collateral damage.”
“I’m also the one holding the match.”
“No. Malcolm created the condition. You are enforcing the contract.”
Sienna did not answer.
That afternoon she called Jonah.
“Can we fund payroll without restoring development draws?”
“Possibly.”
“Directly?”
“We could structure an interim protective advance if the investment committee approves.”
“Do it.”
Jonah sounded surprised.
“You want to keep his employees paid?”
“I want innocent people paid.”
“What about leverage?”
“I’m not using people’s rent money as leverage.”
A silence followed.
Then Jonah said, “This is why investors trust you.”
Sienna ignored the compliment.
“Make sure Malcolm can’t redirect it.”
“We can pay payroll processor and critical site safety expenses directly.”
“Good.”
At Westbridge, Malcolm learned of the arrangement from his controller.
“Everline approved payroll?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Protective advance. Funds can’t be used for anything else.”
Malcolm stared out his office window.
Sienna had just made it harder for him to call her vindictive.
He hated her for that almost as much as he respected it.
His phone rang.
His custody attorney.
“The supervised visit is tomorrow.”
Malcolm’s chest tightened.
“Where?”
“A family visitation center.”
“I’m not seeing my son in some government room.”
“It’s private.”
“I’m his father.”
“Then show up.”
Malcolm said nothing.
The attorney continued.
“And Bianca cannot accompany you.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’ve watched men lose custody battles because they were more committed to defending a new spouse than repairing their relationship with their child.”
Malcolm’s jaw tightened.
“I’m not choosing.”
“You already did on the recording.”
The call ended.
That night, Malcolm found Bianca in the bedroom packing a suitcase.
“Where are you going?”
“Hotel.”
“Why?”
“Because your lawyers are going to turn me into the villain so you can save yourself.”
“I haven’t said that.”
“You don’t need to.”
She zipped the bag.
“What valuation were you talking about?”
Bianca stopped.
“The divorce.”
“What do you know?”
“Enough.”
“Bianca.”
She turned.
“You told Sienna Westbridge’s equity was worth less than seven million.”
“That was the valuation.”
“No.”
Malcolm went pale.
Bianca continued.
“Three weeks before you signed that disclosure, you had a term sheet from Calder Ridge valuing the company at nearly fourteen.”
“It was conditional.”
“It was still a valuation indication.”
“It fell apart.”
“Later.”
Malcolm stared at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because I was in the hotel room when you got the email.”
Silence.
The affair.
The financial disclosure.
The two secrets suddenly occupied the same night.
Bianca lifted the suitcase.
“You wanted out of your marriage without giving Sienna half of what you thought Westbridge would become.”
“That is not what happened.”
“Then why didn’t you disclose the term sheet?”
“Because it wasn’t binding.”
“Maybe a judge agrees.”
She walked past him.
Malcolm grabbed the suitcase handle.
“Where is that email?”
Bianca looked at his hand.
“Let go.”
“Do you have a copy?”
She smiled.
“Now you’re asking the right question.”
“Bianca.”
“I keep copies of everything.”
She pulled the suitcase free.
“And after the way you looked at me downstairs?”
May you like
Her smile vanished.
“I’m starting to think I may need them.”
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