Chapter 7: The Two## Chapter 7: The Two-Million-Dollar Secret
For several seconds-Million-Dollar Secret
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything.
The showroom was full of people, but their voices seemed to come, I couldn't hear anything.
The showroom was full of people, but their voices seemed to come from somewhere far away.
Two million dollars.
A loan secured against my grandmother's old from somewhere far away.
Two million dollars.
A loan secured against my grandmother's old bridal studio.
A property I had supposedly inherited, but never knew was still mine.
And a signature I bridal studio.
A property I had supposedly inherited, but never knew was still mine.
And a signature I had never written.
I looked at Angela Reed.
“Are you telling me someone borrowed two million dollars using a building registered had never written.
I looked at Angela Reed.
“Are you telling me someone borrowed two million dollars using a building registered in my name?””
Angela nodded.
“That's what the current records indicate. We haven't established who submitted in my name?””
Angela nodded.
“That's what the current records indicate. We haven't established who submitted the fraudulent documentation, but the lender has identified you as the property owner.””
“Have they contacted me?””
“Several the fraudulent documentation, but the lender has identified you as the property owner.””
“Have they contacted me?””
“Several notices were sent to the mailing address associated with the registration.””
I frowned.
“What address?””
She showed me the document.
It was notices were sent to the mailing address associated with the registration.””
I frowned.
“What address?””
She showed me the document.
It was Linda and Robert's home address.
I stared at it.
“Why would my correspondence go to their house?””
Angela turned another page.
“According Linda and Robert's home address.
I stared at it.
“Why would my correspondence go to their house?””
Angela turned another page.
“According to the transfer application, you requested that all property-related notices be sent to your father-in-law's business address.””
“I never requested that.””
Robert immediately stepped forward.
to the transfer application, you requested that all property-related notices be sent to your father-in-law's business address.””
“I never requested that.””
Robert immediately stepped forward.
“That's an administrative mistake.””
Angela looked at him.
“Then you'll have no objection to explaining how it happened.””
“Of course not. But this isn't the“That's an administrative mistake.””
Angela looked at him.
“Then you'll have no objection to explaining how it happened.””
“Of course not. But this isn't the place.””
“Unfortunately, the documents suggest that the property may be at risk. We need to establish whether the place.””
“Unfortunately, the documents suggest that the property may be at risk. We need to establish whether the loan was properly authorized.””
Robert adjusted his jacket.
“I'm sure we can resolve this privately.””
Mr. Collins stepped between them.
loan was properly authorized.””
Robert adjusted his jacket.
“I'm sure we can resolve this privately.””
Mr. Collins stepped between them.
“My client will cooperate through the appropriate legal channels. Any further questions concerning the property should be directed to my office.””
Angela nodded.
“That's acceptable.””
She“My client will cooperate through the appropriate legal channels. Any further questions concerning the property should be directed to my office.””
Angela nodded.
“That's acceptable.””
She handed him a copy of the document.
Then she looked at me.
“Ms. Bennett, I recommend that you avoid signing anything related to the property handed him a copy of the document.
Then she looked at me.
“Ms. Bennett, I recommend that you avoid signing anything related to the property until this matter has been reviewed.””
“I haven't signed anything.””
“Then please keep it that way.””
until this matter has been reviewed.””
“I haven't signed anything.””
“Then please keep it that way.””
As Angela moved away, Robert grabbed Linda's arm.
“Get your things. We're leaving.””
Linda didn't move.
“You told me the property was alreadyAs Angela moved away, Robert grabbed Linda's arm.
“Get your things. We're leaving.””
Linda didn't move.
“You told me the property was already transferred.””
Robert lowered his voice.
“Not here.””
“You said the loan was secured against the building, not against Claire personally.””
“Linda transferred.””
Robert lowered his voice.
“Not here.””
“You said the loan was secured against the building, not against Claire personally.””
“Linda.””
“You said she wouldn't be affected!””
He tightened his grip.
“Stop talking.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Dad, let go of her.””
“You said she wouldn't be affected!””
He tightened his grip.
“Stop talking.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Dad, let go of her.””
Robert released his wife.
Then he looked at his son with an expression I had never seen before.
“You have no idea what you're.””
Robert released his wife.
Then he looked at his son with an expression I had never seen before.
“You have no idea what you're getting involved in.””
Daniel stared at him.
“I think I'm already involved.””
Robert gave a humorless laugh.
“You signed getting involved in.””
Daniel stared at him.
“I think I'm already involved.””
Robert gave a humorless laugh.
“You signed the papers, remember?””
Daniel went pale.
I turned toward my husband.
the papers, remember?””
Daniel went pale.
I turned toward my husband.
“What papers?””
He looked at me.
“Claire, I didn't know about the loan.””
“But you signed something?””
His mouth opened.
Then closed.
Robert answered for him.
“He signed as a company“What papers?””
He looked at me.
“Claire, I didn't know about the loan.””
“But you signed something?””
His mouth opened.
Then closed.
Robert answered for him.
“He signed as a company director. That's what directors do.””
Mr. Collins immediately intervened.
“Daniel, I suggest you don't discuss any director. That's what directors do.””
Mr. Collins immediately intervened.
“Daniel, I suggest you don't discuss any further documents without independent legal advice.””
Robert looked furious.
“Are you seriously treating my son like a criminal?””
“I'm further documents without independent legal advice.””
Robert looked furious.
“Are you seriously treating my son like a criminal?””
“I'm treating the situation seriously,” Mr. Collins replied.
Linda suddenly began crying.
Not the theatrical tears from treating the situation seriously,” Mr. Collins replied.
Linda suddenly began crying.
Not the theatrical tears from our anniversary party.
These were different.
Her mascara ran down her cheeks, and her shoulders shook our anniversary party.
These were different.
Her mascara ran down her cheeks, and her shoulders shook.
“Claire, please,” she whispered.
“You have to believe me. I didn't know Robert was going to use your name for the loan.””
I looked.
“Claire, please,” she whispered.
“You have to believe me. I didn't know Robert was going to use your name for the loan.””
I looked at her.
“But you knew he was using my name for the bridal collection.””
She shook her head.
“I thought Daniel at her.
“But you knew he was using my name for the bridal collection.””
She shook her head.
“I thought Daniel had handled the permissions.””
“Daniel told you I hadn't signed.””
Linda looked at her son.
“Not had handled the permissions.””
“Daniel told you I hadn't signed.””
Linda looked at her son.
“Not in those words.””
I felt sick.
There was always another excuse.
Another carefully chosen phrase in those words.””
I felt sick.
There was always another excuse.
Another carefully chosen phrase.
Another way to turn a deliberate decision into an unfortunate misunderstanding.
“Did you know about the two-million-dollar loan?”” I asked.
Linda.
Another way to turn a deliberate decision into an unfortunate misunderstanding.
“Did you know about the two-million-dollar loan?”” I asked.
Linda looked toward Robert.
That was enough.
“Linda?””
She wiped her face.
“I knew there was a loan.””
“Against looked toward Robert.
That was enough.
“Linda?””
She wiped her face.
“I knew there was a loan.””
“Against my property?””
“He told me it was temporary.””
I stared at her.
“Temporary.””
She nodded desperately.
“The company needed capital. Robert said the building my property?””
“He told me it was temporary.””
I stared at her.
“Temporary.””
She nodded desperately.
“The company needed capital. Robert said the building was worth much more than the loan, and once the collection launched, we could repay everything.””
I glanced at the stage.
was worth much more than the loan, and once the collection launched, we could repay everything.””
I glanced at the stage.
At the dresses.
At the banner bearing my grandmother's name.
“You borrowed money against my inheritance to build a businessAt the dresses.
At the banner bearing my grandmother's name.
“You borrowed money against my inheritance to build a business selling my grandmother's designs?””
Linda's lips trembled.
“It's not as simple as that.””
“It is exactly selling my grandmother's designs?””
Linda's lips trembled.
“It's not as simple as that.””
“It is exactly that simple.””
Robert moved toward the exit.
Angela noticed.
“Mr. Bennett, please remain available. We may that simple.””
Robert moved toward the exit.
Angela noticed.
“Mr. Bennett, please remain available. We may need to speak with you again.””
He stopped.
For a moment, he looked like a man considering whether he could simply walk away need to speak with you again.””
He stopped.
For a moment, he looked like a man considering whether he could simply walk away from the entire situation.
Then he turned back.
“Everyone needs to calm down. This is a business dispute. Nothing more from the entire situation.
Then he turned back.
“Everyone needs to calm down. This is a business dispute. Nothing more.””
Mr. Collins opened his briefcase.
“Mr. Bennett, the documentation we've reviewed raises concerns beyond a business dispute.””
Robert's expression hardened.
“.””
Mr. Collins opened his briefcase.
“Mr. Bennett, the documentation we've reviewed raises concerns beyond a business dispute.””
Robert's expression hardened.
“Are you threatening me?””
“No. I'm explaining the situation.””
I looked at Daniel.
He had barely spoken since the loan wasAre you threatening me?””
“No. I'm explaining the situation.””
I looked at Daniel.
He had barely spoken since the loan was mentioned.
“Did you know about the building?”” I asked.
He shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you know Grandma's mentioned.
“Did you know about the building?”” I asked.
He shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you know Grandma's studio was still in my name?””
“No.””
“Did you know your father had borrowed money against it?””
“No, Claire.””
His voice cracked studio was still in my name?””
“No.””
“Did you know your father had borrowed money against it?””
“No, Claire.””
His voice cracked.
I wanted to believe him.
But belief had become expensive.
And I had spent five years paying for it.
“Then tell.
I wanted to believe him.
But belief had become expensive.
And I had spent five years paying for it.
“Then tell me what you did sign.””
Daniel looked toward his father.
me what you did sign.””
Daniel looked toward his father.
Robert shook his head almost imperceptibly.
I noticed.
So did Daniel.
He took a breath.
“I signed a document appointing myself as the company's financial representative.””
Mr. Collins looked up.
“When?””
“AboutRobert shook his head almost imperceptibly.
I noticed.
So did Daniel.
He took a breath.
“I signed a document appointing myself as the company's financial representative.””
Mr. Collins looked up.
“When?””
“About six months ago.””
“Did you understand the document?””
“I thought it allowed me to approve routine expenses.””
“Did it include authority over property?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I don't know.””
Robert interrupted six months ago.””
“Did you understand the document?””
“I thought it allowed me to approve routine expenses.””
“Did it include authority over property?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I don't know.””
Robert interrupted.
“It was a standard corporate authorization.””
Mr. Collins closed his briefcase.
“Then you shouldn't mind providing us with a copy.””
Robert said nothing.
For the first time,.
“It was a standard corporate authorization.””
Mr. Collins closed his briefcase.
“Then you shouldn't mind providing us with a copy.””
Robert said nothing.
For the first time, I realized that Daniel might not be the only person who had been kept in the dark.
But that I realized that Daniel might not be the only person who had been kept in the dark.
But that didn't make him innocent.
It only made the situation more complicated.
I turned away from the stage.
“I want to see the building.””
My mother looked at me.
“Today didn't make him innocent.
It only made the situation more complicated.
I turned away from the stage.
“I want to see the building.””
My mother looked at me.
“Today?””
“Yes.””
Mr. Collins nodded.
“I can arrange a property inspection through the appropriate channels. We should first confirm access and the current status of the building?””
“Yes.””
Mr. Collins nodded.
“I can arrange a property inspection through the appropriate channels. We should first confirm access and the current status of the building.””
Angela gave him a card.
“Contact our office if you discover anything relevant to the loan documentation.””
Then she.””
Angela gave him a card.
“Contact our office if you discover anything relevant to the loan documentation.””
Then she left.
The investors began gathering their belongings.
One woman approached Mr. Collins.
“My company left.
The investors began gathering their belongings.
One woman approached Mr. Collins.
“My company has already paid a deposit for the Evelyn Collection.””
He handed her his business card.
“Please contact me with your documentation.””
Another guest asked has already paid a deposit for the Evelyn Collection.””
He handed her his business card.
“Please contact me with your documentation.””
Another guest asked whether the dresses could still be sold.
Mr. Collins advised them not to proceed until the ownership issue was resolved.
Linda stood on the stage, still whether the dresses could still be sold.
Mr. Collins advised them not to proceed until the ownership issue was resolved.
Linda stood on the stage, still wearing my grandmother's gown.
She looked around at the departing guests.
Her entire presentation was collapsing in front of her.
Then she looked at me.
“You're enjoying this.””
I turned.
“No.””
“You wearing my grandmother's gown.
She looked around at the departing guests.
Her entire presentation was collapsing in front of her.
Then she looked at me.
“You're enjoying this.””
I turned.
“No.””
“You've wanted to humiliate me since the day Daniel married you.””
I stared at her.
“You wore've wanted to humiliate me since the day Daniel married you.””
I stared at her.
“You wore my wedding dress to my anniversary party. You helped use my name without permission. You participated in a company built around my grandmother's my wedding dress to my anniversary party.
You helped use my name without permission. You participated in a company built around my grandmother's work. And now you're telling me I'm enjoying this?””
Linda's face twisted.
“I gave you a family!””
I looked at her for work. And now you're telling me I'm enjoying this?””
Linda's face twisted.
“I gave you a family!””
I looked at her for a long moment.
“No, Linda. I married your son. I didn't sign up to surrender my identity.””
I a long moment.
“No, Linda. I married your son. I didn't sign up to surrender my identity.””
I walked away.
Daniel followed me outside.
“Claire, please wait.””
I stopped beside my car.
walked away.
Daniel followed me outside.
“Claire, please wait.””
I stopped beside my car.
“What?””
“I need to tell you something.””
“Then tell me.””
He looked toward the showroom windows.
“Dad called me last“What?””
“I need to tell you something.””
“Then tell me.””
He looked toward the showroom windows.
“Dad called me last night.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did he say?””
“He told me that if you came to the presentation, I needed to make sure you didn't bring night.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did he say?””
“He told me that if you came to the presentation, I needed to make sure you didn't bring the original ledger.””
“Why?””
Daniel shook his head.
“He said the ledger contained something that could destroy the company.””
I looked at him.
“Did you ask him what?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
the original ledger.””
“Why?””
Daniel shook his head.
“He said the ledger contained something that could destroy the company.””
I looked at him.
“Did you ask him what?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“He said it was better if I didn't know.””
I almost laughed.
The same excuse.
The same pattern.
Another man asking me to accept a secret because it would supposedly“He said it was better if I didn't know.””
I almost laughed.
The same excuse.
The same pattern.
Another man asking me to accept a secret because it would supposedly protect me.
“Daniel, I'm done with people deciding what I should know.””
He nodded.
“I understand protect me.
“Daniel, I'm done with people deciding what I should know.””
He nodded.
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
He looked at me.
Then he said quietly:
“Dad told me something else. He said the loan wasn't the first.””
“Do you?””
He looked at me.
Then he said quietly:
“Dad told me something else. He said the loan wasn't the first time he'd used your grandmother's property.””
I went still.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel swallowed.
“He said there was another loan. A much time he'd used your grandmother's property.””
I went still.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel swallowed.
“He said there was another loan. A much older one.””
“When?””
“Before we got married.””
I stared at him.
“What was the money used for?””
He looked at me with frightened eyes.
“To buy the house we live in.””
older one.””
“When?””
“Before we got married.””
I stared at him.
“What was the money used for?””
He looked at me with frightened eyes.
“To buy the house we live in.””
My heart stopped.
Our house.
The house Daniel and I had lived in for five years.
The house I believed we'd purchased with our savingsMy heart stopped.
Our house.
The house Daniel and I had lived in for five years.
The house I believed we'd purchased with our savings and his father's contribution toward the down payment.
The house where Linda had entered using the emergency code.
The house where my wedding dress had been kept.
I gripped the car and his father's contribution toward the down payment.
The house where Linda had entered using the emergency code.
The house where my wedding dress had been kept.
I gripped the car door.
“Daniel, what did your father put up as collateral for our house?””
He looked down.
Then he whispered:
“Your grandmother's studio.””
door.
“Daniel, what did your father put up as collateral for our house?””
He looked down.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Your grandmother's studio.””
