Chapter 6 - The Country Club Disgrace
The weekly luncheon at the Westchester Country Club was usually Patricia’s favorite stage for social performance.
But on Thursday afternoon, the atmosphere inside the dining hall felt entirely different as she walked toward her usual corner table.
Her friends weren't smiling; they were huddled over a local real estate printout that had been circulated via email hours earlier.
The public foreclosure listing for the Elm Street property had been published on the county database, carrying Patricia’s name right next to a major financial default notice.
"Patricia, dear," one of the senior club board members said, stopping her near the entryway with a tight, artificial smile.
"We received a notice from the corporate accounting office this morning regarding your primary membership pool."
"The secondary corporate card linked to the Williams Trust has been deactivated. We’ll need a personal check for the quarterly dues by five o'clock."
Patricia’s elegant expression cracked completely, the pearl earrings shaking against her neck as the room fell into a dead silence.
"There must be an error," she whispered, her voice losing its polished smoothness. "My son-in-law Jamal handles those accounts through his cryptocurrency portfolio."
"The bank says the property has been funded by Alyssa Williams for the last sixty months, Patricia," the woman replied coldly.
May you like
"And right now, your daughter has officially left the building."
Patricia turned on her heel, walking out of the club with the sudden realization that the daughter she had hidden away in the background was the only person who had kept her relevant.
