Betrayal of Trust

Melissa Williams sat at the kitchen table with bills for payment spread out in front of her and contemplated which of them was the most important to pay first. Telephone was important as that was necessary for business, power and heating came a very close second and that would leave precious little to feed her and her precious daughter Elizabeth Alma. Then there was the need to think about the mortgage hanging over her head on the house. She thought of her ex-husband Gary the successful entrepreneur she’d known since high school days first as a friend who was always cozying up to copy her notes after missing lectures and later as they went to community college she in preparation for a nursing career and he, boasting about conquering the business world. The relationship had been platonic in her mind. He was fun to be around and certainly the life of any party, and they had a wide common circle of friends in that era. Then they went their separate ways and lost touch for a while though connected with their college friends now scattered around the country on Facebook.

Gary come back into view when they both resurfaced at a high school reunion. Mel as she was known to friends had completed her nursing degree and moved higher in the profession as she had a natural aptitude for health-related studies and even managed to have a counselling degree as well. Her family Graham and Mary Granger had financially backed her studies as they were comfortably off financially and they’d similarly dealt with her brother Benjamin and sister Kate’s educational needs. Her parents were now retired and having poured their wealth into their children’s education were unable to help her much now. Gary on the other hand had taken advantage of his parent’s wealth and along with his MBA had been bankrolled into investment management and was quite well off by the time he and Mel met again at the reunion. She was twenty-nine years old and Gary was thirty.

At the end of the reunion Gary embarrassed Mel by declaring before their friends gathered there, he was planning to marry Mel and it was done in a way Gary who no one took very seriously at high school or college thought he was not being serious this time either and just trying to take a rise out of Mel. Mel had of course refused his proposal in front of her classmates which she took as jest in the way of a theatre production and their friends had thought it hilarious.

So Mel was shocked afterward as they prepared to leave when Gary asked to see her privately and told her he was not joking and had always wanted to ask her but had done this before the classmates thinking she’d most likely refuse if he asked so he could refer back to that as a joke when she did refuse his serious wish to marry her. He’d made a joke in front of their friends to protect his ego if she really said no and the news got out, he’d really been refused.

Mel was taken back and didn’t know how to respond. She liked him but had never thought of him as a prospective husband. She was married to her job and the thought of being married otherwise had never entered her head up to that time. She told him she’d never thought of him in a romantic way and would have to think about his proposal to see if perhaps they were compatible, but she felt he was not serious enough to be a loving partner and father.

Mel returned to her rented apartment and work shocked at this encounter. She didn’t have that feeling of magic that accompanied such a life changing proposal or a yearning for it to happen so decided to put it out of her mind. But Gary began a dedicated effort to change that. She was flooded with messages from Gary on Facebook messenger asking her to give his proposal positive response. She began to have flowers delivered on a weekly basis with Gary declaring his love and he began visiting her town on weekends in his exotic German sportscar to urge her to go out with him and see him as a prospective marriage partner. He swore undying love and claimed to have had these feelings for her since high school which she found hard to believe but wondered if she was too harsh in her judgments.

She went onto the internet and paid to do a thorough background check on Gary Williams. The site reported on police records, court cases family situation and she found he was clear of any involvement there and now a successful investment consultant with a high figure net worth. Probably bankrolled by his wealthy parents she thought to give him a start in business but obviously smart enough to be a good provider.

She consulted her parents reporting on the proposal and what she’d found on the internet, and they said he looked like a suitable marriage partner and at her age she needed to think about a family if that was her aim in life. Her brother Benjamin however was not so sure Gary was destined to be a good father from his observations at school, but Kate thought it was romantic.

So, with the concentrated onslaught of Gary’s presence and urgings and the weekly little gifts she began to weaken as she thought of how nice it would be to have children of her own. So eventually Mel said yes and Gary doubled his efforts to see Mel didn’t change her mind and he went on a public relations campaign to win her family members over too.

The honeymoon in Hawaii had been wonderful and Mel by now was head over heels in love with this man who’d showered so much attention on her and her family.

However little by little warning signs began to appear when they returned home and occupied this home Mel presently sat in doing her financial survival homework. The Williams parents had given a half million to the realtor as a deposit on the house this newly married couple were occupying Stewart Williams looking on the gift as a small one considering his wealth. The balance of purchase in joint Gary and Melissa names was a loan from the bank held as mortgage.

Stewart and Alma Williams occupied a sprawling estate with many employees to support their lifestyle. They were members of clubs which only the rich could afford and had a mountain cabin and seaside home when they had the yearning for relaxation. Gary and Mel had access to those holiday homes.

Alma was quite possessive of Mel after marriage and while Mel was suspicious of her mother-in-law initially feeling she was intrusive she was surprised to find Alma had browsed through yearbooks and personally chosen Mel as a suitable partner who could produce beautiful grandchildren for her to spoil and really liked her.

Mel’s parents were middle class and had enough to put their own children through college debt free and were respected in their community. Alma reasoned a marriage partner for her only child Gary with their rich associates’ daughters would be likely to clash with her when they married Gary so a young woman from the middle class would be more likely to be someone who’d let her into the marriage and not deny her access to grandchildren. Alma had little respect for her rich counterparts though she played the game when they all met together. She genuinely loved her new daughter in law and Mel warmed to her as she discerned this. So, Alma had pushed her son into this marriage. That was alarming for Mel to dwell on as she was now watchful to see whether Gary’s attentions were genuine or not. There were some disturbing issues she could see developing.

Gary’s attentions remained consistent and he was delighted Mel pleased his mother as he had a strange affection for his mother and was constantly on the phone to her to seek her input on things going on in his life. The father Stewart was distant to both Alma and Mel and Mel could understand why the older woman needed to have someone to love and be loved by. Gary began to take an interest in Mel’s movements around town as she continued in her nursing and counselling profession. He wanted a report each evening on her activities of the day and Mel resented that and told him he needed to loosen up a bit as she was unwilling to be controlled. He responded by treating her coldly for a day or two until he discerned Mel was not going to surrender control over her life. Then he’d be all apologies after discussing this with his mother and finding his mother took Mel’s part and scolded him. He craved his mother’s approval so would be attentive to Mel’s needs for a while. Mel had taken her cell phone to a repairer when it began acting strangely and she was informed the phone had a tracking app installed and obviously was in sync with another phone. Mel confronted her husband and he said he’d done that so he could be there to protect her in the event she got into any trouble.

Mel wondered what other ways she was being tracked and took her car to an auto electrician and had it scanned only to find that there was a tracking bug under her car too. Once again, she confronted Gary and he said he’d forgotten about that and meant to remove it when his wife objected about the phone tracking app and apologized. Mel was now suspicious of her husband and wondering if she should get out of this marriage. She confided in Alma sharing her irritation at her husband and Alma confronted her son and told him to behave. Gary was meek and attentive after that, and Mel slowly relaxed in her marriage grateful to have a supportive mother-in-law.

Then came an unplanned surprise. Mel discovered she was pregnant. There was great rejoicing in the Williams and Granger homes when they heard the news. Gary and Stewart looked forward to the birth of a manchild, and Alma assured Mel she’d be happy with her first grandchild of either sex. Over time as the baby developed Mel learned that she was expecting a girl and wondered how Gary would accept this seeing he was so confident in it being a son. Neither Stewart or Gary was pleased when this news was shared, and Mel soon noticed the difference. Gary complained to his mother she’d not chosen his bride carefully and Alma scolded her son and brought him into line.

When Eizabeth Alma was born the Grangers were there to give Mel support along with Alma who was delighted with her granddaughter. A bonding developed between Mel’s mother Mary and Alma as they watched through the window where their granddaughter lay and nurses attended her. Gary pretended excitement as he knew this pleased his mother, but it was apparent to Mel she’d made a big mistake in agreeing to this marriage. However, for the child’s sake she’d stay in the marriage.

Gary was not at all enthusiastic about his new daughter and it was obvious he didn’t want to establish a relationship with her. This further alarmed Mel who shared her concerns with her mother as Grandmother Mary spent as much time as she could caring for the child while Mel attempted to reestablish contacts with the hospitals and clients she’d had before as she hedged her bets this marriage would last.

Alma disappointed at the obvious displeasure of her husband and son at the birth of baby Liz was there to give Mel support by minding the child as she reestablished contacts in the health industry. Alma was also beginning to fear for this marriage to last and confronted her son which made him angry, and Gary sought his father Stewart’s support which the father willingly gave. Alma was distressed as the men she loved now ganged up on her and created an unpleasant atmosphere in their home.

Over time the stress Alma was under caused her to seek her doctor’s help in prescribing medication to get her through her days at home and in the process of doing a thorough examination through the usual diagnostics the results came back with a surprise. Because of stress in the home Alma had considered declining health and weight loss a natural result but the stress had only hastened a condition that alarmed the doctor. An operation was necessary to deal with cancer indicated in the tests and identified through diagnostics. When the doctors operated, they discovered this had spread further than anticipated so more defined tests were conducted showing that this cancer had spread throughout Alma’s body to the extent she only had two choices. Chemo and radiation with a low chance this would end in a cure or accept the situation and make her peace with six months estimated for Alma to live.

Her husband Stewart and son Gary did not know how to deal with this news. Alma had always been there at their beck and call, and they could not comprehend she’d only be with them a while longer. Stewart hired live in nurses to care for Alma’s needs and Stewart not knowing how to deal with the situation poured himself into work and only came home to sleep. Gary who’d had this unusual attraction for his mother shut down completely and spent as much time as he could away from his home transferring his attentions to his father who unused to bonding closely with his son drew back from such a close personal relationship. This dysfunctional home was a disaster. Mary Granger and Mel upset at the unloving attitude of Stewart and Gary spent as much time as possible with Alma before she sunk into a state of constant sleep under the influence of very strong painkillers and no longer recognized them.

Gary began a concerted effort to take it out on Mel as he dealt with the certain loss of his mother who’d been somewhat of a moderator of her son’s mercurial nature. He’d abuse Mel for spending money, complain about her in the presence of friends as an unfit mother to his child and try to cause her to break down with his taunts taking out his phone camera to try and take a photo of her losing her temper or crying. Mel learned through mutual friends Gary was in touch with a college friend who’d graduated as a psychologist, and he’d sought counsel on how he might be able to prove Mel was unfit as a wife in a contemplated divorce. Learning this Mel took the initiative and sought a divorce lawyer paid for by her brother Ben who assured her he, now running the business his father had retired from, would come to her aid financially if she found herself in trouble. She did this without the knowledge of Gary and as instructed by the lawyer gathered evidence of Gary’s torment through listening devices and camera’s secretly installed in the home and on her person.

When the divorce notice was delivered to Gary, he didn’t take it seriously feeling he had enough position in society and friends in the judiciary through family contacts to see Mel got nothing out of the divorce and even was glad it had come to a head. But when it came to the divorce proceedings and the judge had been supplied with all the evidence of Gary’s cruel treatment the case findings were that Mel got to keep the home and half of Gary’s accumulated wealth to be identified by the courts. Gary was beside himself with anger and in the court threatened Mel and their daughter in such a way the judge could see he was a danger to wife and child so in addition to the judgment a restraining order was taken out against Gary through the police. Stewart on learning this blot on his family reputation in the business world told Gary he was going to be disinherited.

Gary who was a successful owner of an investment management firm was horrified he’d be required to give half of his personal fortune to Mel under court ruling in the divorce and now had his hopes dashed at inheriting his father’s considerable fortune. In his frustration he quickly considered how he could protect what he felt was his. He had no love for his wife and daughter and thought it unfair he had to give them part of his fortune. He could contest the divorce judgment; he could contest his father’s will when he died. His anger clouded his judgment, and he thought of a way to ensure he was comfortable for the rest of his life and avoid any surrender of his money in a divorce.

He had business contacts in South America and in his travels, Argentina had appealed to him. There was a substantial English-speaking population there and he had working knowledge of Spanish, and he remembered Marta the beauty his contacts in business had provided to show him around Buenos Aires. He could make a life there. Within minutes he’d bought a ticket to Venezuela with the objective of purchasing a forward ticket in another name to Buenos Aires, emptied the trust funds belonging to his clients into an offshore account which would be his conduit to transferring that money to Argentina eventually. He’d have a multi-million-dollar fortune stolen for a good lifestyle in a place he favoured and who cared this would make him a hunted man by the FBI with a criminal record. His father would have a further blot on the family reputation to teach him a lesson too. His money would buy him a passport in his adopted country and a new name, and his present passport would be destroyed to make it hard to trace him. Who knew what kind of investment opportunities awaited him with his stolen fortune to spend and he felt he could avoid extradition. If Argentina had protected Hitler’s fleeing nazis after the second world war ended in their flight, then he could get similar protection. Twelve hours later he was boarding a flight to depart the US forever.

Employees arrived at Gary’s investment management floor in the rented city skyscraper to find Gary had not arrived early as usual to direct business for the day. The phones rang off the hook throughout the day while employees sought to learn where their boss was. Clients needed current information on their investments and accounting was nonplussed when checking on banks to effect transactions for their clients that bank transfers to clients were refused. The funds in bank had vanished leaving only records of funds owing to clients with no bank money to back them up. Millions of dollars had disappeared overnight, and employees eventually frightened they’d be called to account called the police. Forensic accountants were engaged to solve the riddle of the missing dollars, but the funds had moved out of traceability. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Gary Williams, and it was learned Gary had travelled to Venezuela and disappeared. Interpol was contacted to check on where he may have travelled on his US passport but obviously, he’d obtained other documents for a forward journey. The theft of funds was so enormous and corporate clients at the highest level affected that it became a huge issue in news media and government.

The FBI were granted a warrant to raid Stewart Williams business interests to see if he was involved with his son and Stewart was mortified as former corporate friends and politicians began to shun him. He had to engage high powered legal representatives to clear his name, but suspicions continued and former friends cut off contact. Mel’s home had been raided with a warrant to search the home from top to bottom to her embarrassment, but nothing was found and after hours of questioning authorities in the FBI were convinced Mel was totally innocent of any involvement. However, she was informed that as wife to the man they were looking for her assets were potentially at risk too even though the judge had awarded the equity in the home to her title was still in joint names waiting for the Judges declaration to be carried out.

So, Mel sat at the kitchen table with accounts to be paid laid out before her and wondering if in the process of seeking funds to partially satisfy those claimants whose funds had been stolen she herself was going to be even further financially disadvantaged. Her lawyer was studying the implications off her former husband’s misappropriation for her personally. Her Brother Benjamin was suggesting she sell the house and pay off the mortgage and move into an apartment he owned and used for visiting clients as a guest complex. It would be rent free and utilities free apart from telephone. She thought that would be a potential solution keeping the house equity after paying the mortgage in the lawyer’s trust account until any liability for her husband’s theft was assessed. Her parents wanted to help but they’d spent the bulk of their savings on their children’s education and needed what they’d retained in savings to care for any emergency as they grew older. Benjamin would not hear of them paying one cent toward his sister’s situation. She was his responsibility now. She was so grateful for her family and the fact Kate’s husband was a genuine caring man.

Mel finished her debt inspection satisfied she’d make it through another month and still be able to service the mortgage. Benjamin had offered to pay out the mortgage leaving her debt free there. It was a tempting offer, but it was not clarified as to whether creditors to her former husband’s misappropriations would want to extract the last ounce of money out of her in anger despite the fact she was innocent after all the house was presently in joint names pending action on the court order to place it in her name. So, it made no sense for her brother to pour his hard-earned wealth into this mortgage and must surrender the house.

Mel remembered when the FBI had raided her home and carted off computers and every piece of paper file and extension disks. They’d given her a twenty-four-hour number to contact them should she have any contact with her former husband Gary. She knew it was after hours but decided to contact them anyway. A gruff voice at the other end answered addressing her by name. It looked like they had her phone bugged and knew who was on the line. Perhaps they’d installed listening devices in the home too, but she had no interest in searching to confirm that and didn’t have the equipment to check anyway. She told them she had no idea where her ex-husband was still but wanted to clarify if it had been decided to seize her assets. The FBI agent laughed and told her creditors were not interested in her place which was a tiny fraction of the millions owed them. They wanted the man and the return of their money. But they confirmed every call she made or received was known to them so her cooperation should continue or perhaps those creditors may change their minds. She assured that agent she had no love for her ex-husband who’d treated her so cruelly and wanted to see him bought to justice.

To be continued.

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