Chapter 5: The Family Meeting
Patricia called me at 10:03 a.m.
I watched her name flash across my phone.
For several seconds, I considered ignoring it.
Then I answered.
“Nia, finally.””
There was no greeting.
No apology.
Not even a question about how I was feeling.
“What do you want, Patricia?””
She sighed dramatically.
“I think we need to clear up a few misunderstandings.””
“Which ones?””
“About the birthday dinner, obviously. And this ridiculous situation with Daniel's business.””
I leaned back in my chair.
“What situation?””
“Don't play games with me. Daniel told me you've hired lawyers.””
“That's correct.””
“Well, I think that's an unnecessary escalation.””
I glanced at the documents on my desk.
“Did you prepare the financial attachment for the loan guarantee?””
Silence.
Then Patricia gave a short laugh.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“Your name is on the document.””
“Daniel asked me to help organize some paperwork.””
“Did you know my signature was being used without my permission?””
Her voice sharpened.
“Now, listen to me. You and Daniel are married. His business problems are your problems too.””
“That's not how consent works.””
“Don't lecture me about marriage.””
She lowered her voice.
“You have no idea how much pressure Daniel has been under. He's been trying to protect this family.””
I closed my eyes.
“By putting my apartment at risk?””
“It's a piece of property, Nia. You have plenty of money.””
There it was.
Not even an attempt to deny it.
Just the assumption that everything I owned was available to her family.
“Patricia, why did you need my signature?””
“Because the bank required it.””
“And why didn't you ask me?””
She scoffed.
“Because you would have turned it into a business negotiation.””
I stared at the phone.
“Goodbye, Patricia.””
“Wait. There's something else.””
I didn't respond.
“Daniel wants everyone together this evening. Just family. We can discuss the situation without lawyers interfering.””
“Who is everyone?””
“Daniel, me, his brother, and a few relatives.””
“Why?””
“Because people are starting to talk. We need to put this behind us.””
I almost laughed.
The people who had watched me sit beside the kitchen doors were now concerned about gossip.
“Where?””
“At my house. Seven o'clock.””
“I'll consider it.””
“Good. And Nia?””
“Yes?””
“Don't come dressed like you're attending a board meeting. This is a family conversation.””
She ended the call.
I looked at Evelyn.
She had heard enough through the speakerphone to understand.
“Are you going?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I want to hear what they're prepared to say when they think they still have control.””
Evelyn considered that.
“Then we're going together.””
Patricia's house was already crowded when we arrived.
Her enormous living room smelled of expensive perfume and freshly polished furniture. A silver tea service sat on the coffee table. Patricia had arranged the seating so that she occupied the center sofa.
Daniel stood near the fireplace.
His younger brother, Michael, sat in an armchair, scrolling through his phone.
Two aunts were whispering near the window.
When Patricia saw me, her expression tightened.
“You brought someone?””
“This is Evelyn Brooks, my attorney.””
Patricia's smile disappeared.
“I specifically asked for a family meeting.””
“And I specifically wanted legal representation.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Nia, can we please keep this civil?””
I removed my coat.
“I'm perfectly civil.””
Patricia pointed toward a chair.
“Sit down. We have a lot to discuss.””
I sat beside Evelyn.
Michael finally looked up.
“Wow. This is serious.””
Daniel shot him a warning glance.
Patricia folded her hands.
“First, I think everyone should acknowledge that mistakes were made.””
I waited.
She continued.
“The birthday dinner became unnecessarily dramatic. Nia felt offended by the seating arrangement, and perhaps I could have handled that differently.””
“Differently?”” I asked.
Patricia ignored me.
“But what's done is done. We shouldn't allow one unfortunate evening to destroy this family.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Is that why you invited me? To discuss a seating arrangement?””
He shook his head.
“We need to discuss the loan.””
“Then let's discuss it.””
Evelyn opened her briefcase.
Patricia frowned.
“Must we have paperwork?””
“Yes,” Evelyn replied calmly.
“Particularly when discussing documents that appear to have been signed without my client's authorization.””
Michael stopped scrolling.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Can we not use words like that?””
“Which words?”” Evelyn asked.
“Authorization?””
Patricia leaned forward.
“This is getting out of hand. Nia knows Daniel would never intentionally hurt her.””
I looked at her.
“Then why did you help him use my financial records?””
Her face hardened.
“I was helping my son.””
“With information taken from my private accounts?””
“I don't know what you're implying.””
Evelyn placed the financial attachment on the table.
“Mrs. Carter, your name appears as the preparer of this document. It contains private financial information belonging to Ms. Carter.””
Patricia glanced at it.
Then she looked away.
“I was given those details.””
“By whom?””
“Daniel.””
I turned toward my husband.
“Where did you get my account information?””
He shifted his weight.
“You left some documents in the study.””
“That account number isn't on any document in our house.””
He didn't answer.
Evelyn placed another page on the table.
“And we also have evidence of a three-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar payment to Mrs. Carter.””
Patricia sat upright.
“That was a legitimate business payment.””
“What services were provided?”” Evelyn asked.
“Consulting.””
“What company did you consult for?””
Patricia looked irritated.
“Why are you interrogating me?””
“Because the payment appears to have been made from a loan application involving disputed collateral.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Enough. I'll explain.””
He looked at me.
“The payment was temporary. Mom helped with some business introductions. I needed to reimburse her for expenses.””
“Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars?””
“She covered things for the company.””
“Show me the invoices.””
Daniel hesitated.
Patricia jumped in.
“Not everything needs an invoice!””
Evelyn calmly closed her folder.
“Actually, when substantial payments are involved, documentation is generally expected.””
Michael suddenly stood.
“Can we just stop pretending this is about the loan?””
Everyone turned toward him.
Daniel frowned.
“Sit down, Mike.””
“No. I'm tired of this.””
Patricia looked furious.
“Michael, don't interfere.””
He looked at me.
“Nia, I think you should know that Mom has been telling everyone Daniel's business is doing much better than it actually is.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“What are you talking about?””
Michael swallowed.
“She told me the bank would approve the loan because Nia would sign. She said everything would be fine once the guarantee was completed.””
I stared at him.
“Did she tell you anything else?””
He hesitated.
Then he glanced at Patricia.
“Michael!”” she snapped.
He looked down.
“She said the money would eventually be moved into a separate account.””
Daniel took a step toward him.
“Shut up.””
Michael stood his ground.
“Why? You told me it was temporary.””
Patricia slammed her hand onto the coffee table.
“This is family business!””
I leaned forward.
“Where was the separate account?””
Nobody answered.
Evelyn opened her briefcase again.
“We may already have identified it.””
She placed a bank statement on the table.
The account was registered under a company called *Carter Legacy Consulting LLC*.
Its listed manager was Patricia.
I stared at the name.
“Who owns this company?””
Evelyn looked at me.
“Your mother-in-law.””
Patricia's face went white.
Daniel stepped toward the document.
“That's not relevant.””
“Then you won't mind explaining why your company transferred money into it,” Evelyn replied.
Daniel looked at his mother.
She looked back at him.
And for the first time since I'd known her, Patricia seemed genuinely frightened.
I stood.
“I think we're finished here.””
Patricia jumped up.
“You can't just walk away!””
I turned toward her.
“Watch me.””
Then Michael spoke.
“Nia, wait.””
I stopped.
He looked at Daniel, then at his mother.
“There's something else you need to know.””
His voice trembled.
“The money wasn't only supposed to pay off the business debt.””
He reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
“I saw an email. It said that after the bank approved the guarantee, Daniel was going to transfer the ownership of something.””
“What something?”” I asked.
Michael swallowed.
“Carter Capital.””
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Daniel lunged toward him.
“Give me that phone!””
Michael stepped backward.
Patricia screamed.
And Evelyn immediately stood between them.
“Mr. Carter, don't touch him.””
Michael unlocked his phone with shaking fingers.
Then he turned the screen toward me.
The email contained an attachment titled:
*Proposed Ownership Transfer — Carter Capital Holdings.*
And beneath the document was a name I recognized.
Not Daniel's.
May you like
Not Patricia's.
Someone who had been working inside my company.
