Grant opened his office door before I could take another step, a blue glass water bottle in his left hand.

He eyed the papers in my hand with practiced calm, his blue shirt pressed without one wrinkle.

I handed him the sheets showing three wire payments adding up to eighty-two thousand dollars taken straight out of our shared household reserves.

“I need you to explain Apex Consulting.”

Natalie stopped typing at once.

She swiveled around in her leather chair, both palms flat on the desk.

“Apex is a licensed regional research vendor.