Chapter 5: The Woman Who Signed My Name
Margaret didn't deny the photograph.
That frightened me more than if she had.
We stood inside the elevator while the doors remained open.
"Who sent this?"" she asked.
"I don't know.""
"Delete it.""
"Why?""
"Because whoever sent it wants you to distrust everyone around you.""
I stepped out of the elevator.
"Then give me a reason not to distrust you.""
She followed me into the hallway.
"Ethan, I've represented your family for twenty-two years. Your father trusted me with his life.""
"Apparently, he trusted a lot of people.""
She stopped walking.
The receptionist looked up from her desk.
Margaret lowered her voice.
"Not here.""
"Then where?""
She considered me for a moment.
"My office. And this time, I'll show you everything.""
Ten minutes later, she placed a locked metal box on her desk.
I recognized the initials engraved on its lid.
D.H.
Daniel Hayes.
Margaret entered a combination and opened it.
Inside were three envelopes, a small recording device, and a stack of legal documents.
She removed the first envelope.
"Your father gave me this four days before he died.""
I took it.
The handwriting was his.
Margaret, if Richard makes his move, Ethan must be protected. Do not allow anyone to convince him that blood determines family.
I read it twice.
My throat tightened.
Margaret continued.
"He also gave me instructions concerning Tiana.""
I looked up.
"What instructions?""
"To watch her.""
"Why?""
"Because your father suspected she had access to Richard's financial network.""
I leaned against the desk.
"Did you know she was dating me?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know she had been sent to approach me?""
Margaret hesitated.
"Not initially.""
"That's not an answer.""
She looked at the metal box.
"Three months into your relationship, your father contacted me. He asked me to investigate her background.""
"And what did you find?""
"That she had incorporated Meridian Advisory Group. He also found evidence that she was receiving payments from a company associated with Richard.""
"How much?""
"Approximately $180,000.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Your father asked me not to interfere until he had proof that the payments were connected to criminal activity.""
I laughed.
"So you watched me build a relationship with someone who was being paid to get close to me.""
Margaret didn't defend herself.
I turned away.
For two years, I'd imagined marrying Tiana.
I'd pictured buying a house together.
I'd even considered asking her to move into the apartment permanently.
And all that time, someone had been paying her.
"Play the recording," I said.
Margaret inserted the device into her computer.
A familiar voice filled the room.
My father's.
"If you're hearing this, Margaret, things have gone further than I hoped.""
He paused.
"I know about Richard. I know about the accounts. And I know he has begun using Ethan to gain access to the trust.""
My chest tightened.
My father continued.
"I also know that Tiana Brooks has been placed in Ethan's life. But I don't believe she understands the entire operation. Richard is using her ambition, her debts, and her affection for my son.""
Margaret looked at me.
The recording continued.
"There's something else. I discovered that Richard has been using my signature to authorize transfers. But he has also forged Ethan's signature. That means he intends to make my son the public face of the theft.""
I closed my eyes.
My father took a breath.
"If anything happens to me, don't let Ethan fight this alone. Find the original ledger. The blue room. Behind the clock.""
The recording ended.
I looked at Margaret.
"What's the blue room?""
"My father's private archive at the company headquarters.""
"Why haven't we gone there?""
"Because Richard controls access to that floor.""
I stood.
"Then we'll find another way.""
Margaret reached for the second envelope.
"There's one more thing you need to see.""
She handed it to me.
Inside was a printed email from Tiana.
The date was eighteen months earlier.
The subject line read:
*Progress Report.*
I began reading.
Richard,
Ethan still believes his father left him a modest inheritance. He hasn't asked about the trust in months. He has no interest in the company.
I'm trying to get him to sign the documents you sent, but he keeps saying he wants Margaret to review them first.
I need more time.
The reply was from Richard.
Make him trust you. If he loves you enough, he'll sign whatever you put in front of him.
I felt sick.
Then I noticed a third email.
It was from Tiana.
What happens when he finds out?
Richard's answer was brief.
By then, it won't matter. He'll be legally responsible for the missing funds.
I placed the papers down.
"She was going to make me the scapegoat.""
Margaret nodded.
"That's what your father suspected.""
I walked to the window.
My phone rang.
Tiana.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
"Ethan?""
Her voice sounded exhausted.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Alone?""
"Yes.""
A pause.
"Can we meet?""
I looked at Margaret.
"Why?""
"Because I need to tell you something before Richard does.""
"About the money?""
Silence.
"How do you know about that?""
"Your name is on the company records.""
She exhaled shakily.
"I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
"Not over the phone.""
I glanced at the documents.
"Did you take money from Hayes Global?""
"I didn't steal anything.""
"Did you receive $180,000?""
Her breathing stopped.
"Ethan, please.""
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why?""
"Because Richard said it was consulting work.""
"And you believed him?""
"I was twenty-five when this started. I needed money. I had debts.""
"You were twenty-five, not five.""
She began crying.
"I know.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Why did you approach me?""
"I didn't know who you were at first.""
"That's a lie.""
Another silence.
Then she said:
"Richard told me to get close to you. But I wasn't supposed to fall in love with you.""
I stared at the wall.
"And did you?""
Her answer came quietly.
"Yes.""
I almost believed her.
Almost.
"Why didn't you leave when things became serious?""
"Because Richard threatened me.""
"With what?""
"He said he would destroy my company. He said he'd make sure I went to prison.""
I looked at Margaret.
She was listening carefully.
"Where is Richard now?"" I asked.
"I don't know.""
"You're in contact with him.""
"I was.""
"When?""
"Last night.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"What did he want?""
Tiana lowered her voice.
"He wants you to sign something.""
"What?""
"A document transferring your voting rights.""
My jaw tightened.
"Why are you telling me this?""
"Because I found out what he's planning.""
"What?""
She took a shaky breath.
"He's going to announce that you're responsible for the missing $8.7 million. He has fabricated evidence. And Adrian is going to testify against you.""
Margaret stood abruptly.
"That's impossible.""
I put the phone on speaker.
"Tiana, how do you know?""
"Because I saw the documents.""
"Where?""
"Richard's office.""
"When?""
"This morning.""
I looked at the clock.
It was 9:16.
The emergency board meeting had already begun.
"Can you get copies?""
"I have something better.""
"What?""
"A recording.""
"Of what?""
"Richard and Adrian discussing the plan.""
I straightened.
"Where are you?""
She gave me an address.
Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
"Ethan, there's one more thing. Adrian knows about your birth certificate.""
I said nothing.
"He knows Richard is your biological father.""
"How?""
"Because he's the one who ordered the document.""
The call ended.
Margaret looked at me.
"We need to go to the headquarters immediately.""
I grabbed my coat.
But before we could leave, her computer chimed.
A new email appeared.
The sender was the company's compliance department.
The subject line:
*URGENT — CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST ETHAN HAYES.*
I opened the attachment.
It contained a signed affidavit.
My name appeared at the bottom.
And the witness signature belonged to Margaret Hayes.
I slowly turned toward her.
She looked horrified.
"That's not my signature.""
But the document contained something else.
A photograph of Margaret standing outside a bank.
Beside her was Richard Coleman.
May you like
And in his hand was a folder marked:
*ORIGINAL TRUST AGREEMENT.*
