Chapter 3: The Secret Behind Ashley’s Dream
The person waiting outside my office building was not someone I expected to see.
Her name was Megan.
She had been Ashley’s business partner.
Three months earlier, Ashley had introduced her as “the only person who understands my vision.””
Now Megan looked exhausted.
“Can we talk somewhere private?””
I led her to a nearby coffee shop.
The irony wasn’t lost on me.
Coffee had changed everything.
Megan wrapped both hands around her cup.
“Ashley told you she was opening a studio?””
“Yes.””
“She told everyone that.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Megan slid a folder across the table.
Inside were invoices.
Contracts.
Emails.
My heart sank.
“She never had a studio.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“She had a name. A logo. Social media. That’s it.””
I flipped through the documents.
“She collected deposits?””
Megan nodded.
“From clients.””
“How much?””
“Almost thirty thousand dollars.””
I felt cold.
“Where did it go?””
Megan looked at me.
“Some of it went toward expenses.””
“And the rest?””
She didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
I already knew.
“Ashley told me you were investing.””
I stared.
“What?””
“She said you supported her financially.””
A bitter laugh escaped.
“I didn’t invest.””
Megan looked away.
“She lied to both of us.””
I spent the next hour listening.
Ashley had promised clients opening dates that didn’t exist.
She had used fake business projections.
She had blamed delays on suppliers.
And when Megan questioned her, Ashley disappeared.
Leaving Megan responsible.
When I got home, I sat in my car for ten minutes.
My family had spent years telling me Ashley was fragile.
Ashley was overwhelmed.
Ashley needed help.
But Ashley wasn’t fragile.
She was protected.
By everyone.
Including me.
That night, I confronted her.
She answered the door wearing a silk robe.
“Claire.””
Her smile disappeared when she saw my expression.
“What happened?””
I held up the folder.
“What did you do?””
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“You talked to Megan.””
“So it’s true?””
She crossed her arms.
“You’re spying on me now?””
“I’m trying to understand how many people you hurt.””
She rolled her eyes.
“Don’t act innocent. You’ve always judged me.””
“No. I covered for you.””
“Same thing.””
I stepped back.
“No, Ashley. It isn’t.””
She laughed.
“You think you’re better than me because you have a stable job?””
“No.””
“Because you have money?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
I looked at her.
“Because I know when to stop hurting people.””
For the first time, she looked angry.
Not guilty.
Angry.
“You think you can destroy me?””
“You did that yourself.””
She stepped closer.
“You’ll come back.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
She smiled.
“You always come back.””
That sentence followed me home.
Because she believed it.
Not because she was confident.
Because I had trained her to believe it.
The next morning, Mom sent a message.
Your father needs help with the house payment. Please don’t punish us because of Ashley.
I stared at the words.
Then another message arrived.
From Megan.
Claire, there’s something else you need to know. Ashley used your name in another document.
My hands went still.
I opened the attachment.
At the bottom of the page was a signature.
My signature.
May you like
Except I had never signed it.
And now someone had used it to approve a loan.
