Chapter 3 - Natalie and Bianca Had Once Been Best Friends
Natalie’s sister Caroline knew immediately.
When I showed her Bianca’s old photograph, she went silent.
“You seriously didn’t know?”
“No.”
Caroline sat down.
“Caleb, Natalie hated her.”
That was not what I expected.
The two women had met in college and become close almost instantly.
Natalie studied design.
Bianca studied marketing.
After graduation, they helped launch a small bridal styling and events company with two friends.
For the first two years, Bianca and Natalie were nearly inseparable.
They traveled together.
Worked twelve-hour days.
Spent holidays with each other’s families.
The pendant had been a gift from Natalie.
Caroline remembered it.
“Natalie gave Bianca that after their first profitable season.”
“Why put her own picture inside?”
“It was an inside joke. Bianca said Natalie was the face of the company and she was the woman behind the curtain.”
Then everything fell apart.
Money began disappearing.
Vendor balances did not match.
Clients complained deposits had been received but never credited.
Natalie investigated.
The payments were flowing into an account Bianca controlled.
The amount was not millions.
About $86,000.
Enough to nearly kill a young business.
Natalie confronted her.
Bianca denied everything.
Then blamed another employee.
Then begged Natalie not to involve police.
Eventually the partnership collapsed.
Bianca left.
Natalie spent years rebuilding.
And according to Caroline:
“She told me Bianca would rather destroy a room than admit she’d been caught lying.”
I looked toward the bedroom where Lila slept.
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That description no longer sounded historical.
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