Winter's Shock by Mary Stone

Author:Mary Stone [Stone, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

21

Winter took in Wilma Stark’s expansive but austere living room, complete with white leather furniture, flagstone flooring, and an iron wall hanging depicting the Austin skyline. Wilma, a stalwart and determined Black woman who’d worked her way through the advertising ranks, sat across from Winter. A modern white-and-chrome coffee table occupying the space between them probably cost more than Winter’s Honda. She had tea ready for their conversation.

“I founded Enterprise Events with my ex-husband. We saw dollar signs coming up with the entertainment industry in Austin and figured that was a good place to make a splash. Promoting shows, ticket sales, you name it.”

“But you sold the business through Mat Schultz’s brokerage firm.”

Wilma sipped her tea before answering. “I did. You know what they say about how we all make choices?”

Winter knew the saying. She’d been thinking about it off and on since leaving Richmond.

“What choice did you make?”

Wilma let out a laugh tinged with regret. “Getting in the wrong damn bed. He wasn’t just married either. Earned me a nasty divorce to start with, and since he was a city official, my name went to the top of every do-not-invite list in Austin. I bought my ex’s side of the business, hoping I could keep things going, but nope. It tanked, and I ended up on Mat’s doorstep.”

Winter glanced around the enormous room she sat in. It couldn’t have tanked too much.

“And he helped you sell?”

“Uh-huh. The man is a total asswipe, by the way. I went to him because I thought he could get me something for all my troubles. Big mistake. Mat’s a screwup.”

Hoping to set the woman at ease, Winter offered a gentle smile. “So I’ve heard.”

Wilma placed her tea on the coffee table. “From the moment I set foot in his office, I had doubts. Thank god for Leanne. She and I got along famously, and she was a damn good broker.”

Winter kept her voice neutral, casual. “Is that why Leanne handled your sale? She was insistent I speak with you, and, forgive me…I know about the skimming. I have no intention of discussing that with anyone but you, Mat, and Leanne.”

Sitting back on her sofa, Wilma showed no hint of emotion in her cool gaze. “It was Mat who came to me with his plan to take money from the sale and split it with me. I went along because he made it sound so easy. And I needed something to keep me afloat. Leanne assured me nothing would go wrong. After all the crap I went through to get where I am, I didn’t want to jeopardize my reputation. She knew that.”

Wilma’s openness was refreshing, even if Winter hadn’t learned anything new so far. “So you were happy with the deal?”

“Sure I was. The extra cash was great, but when I got paid, it was short. Mat promised me his firm would take eight percent to handle the transaction, but the real deal was for ten percent. That extra two percent would be split between me, him, and Leanne.

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