Chapter 4
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the property filing.
Nine hundred thousand dollars.
Judith's old catering property.
Transferred to a company using my business name.
I kept thinking about the unfinished investment agreement.
The missing reserve money.
Nathan's sudden interest in hospitality development.
By sunrise, I had printed every document and placed them in a folder.
At eight thirty, Rachel called.
"I reviewed the filing."
My heart raced.
"And?"
"The entity that acquired the property is not your company."
I frowned.
"What?"
"It's a separate LLC with a very similar name."
I stared at the folder.
"Hayes Design Holdings?"
"Yes. But your business is Hayes Interior Design Group."
I swallowed.
"Who owns the new company?"
Rachel paused.
"According to the current filings, Nathan is the manager."
My stomach tightened.
"And?"
"Vanessa is listed as a member."
I closed my eyes.
"Of course."
Rachel continued.
"The property appears to have been transferred as part of a larger financing arrangement."
"What does that mean?"
"It means someone may have been using your company's reputation and financial information to support a deal."
I stared at the wall.
"Without my permission."
"That's what we need to establish."
She asked me to come to her office.
When I arrived, Daniel had spread several documents across the conference table.
He pointed to one.
"This is the most concerning part."
I leaned forward.
It was a financial statement.
My company's revenue appeared on the first page.
But the company name was slightly different.
My legitimate business had earned the money.
Nathan's company appeared to be claiming the financial strength.
Daniel looked at me.
"These figures match your internal records."
I felt sick.
"How did he get them?"
"Someone with access could have copied them."
Nathan.
My husband.
The man who had insisted we should never keep secrets from each other.
I sat back.
"What happens now?"
Rachel answered.
"We notify the affected institutions, preserve evidence, and pursue appropriate legal remedies. We also need to determine whether your company is actually bound by anything."
I nodded.
Then Daniel opened another document.
"There's more."
My heart sank.
"What?"
"The hospitality company applied for a commercial loan."
"How much?"
"Two million dollars."
I stared at him.
"Two million?"
He nodded.
"And the application includes a purported guarantee from your company."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"No."
Rachel leaned closer.
"We haven't established whether the lender accepted that guarantee. But we need to challenge it immediately."
I pressed my hands against the table.
Nathan hadn't merely taken money.
He had placed the future of my business at risk.
I thought of Grace.
My designers.
Our project managers.
The families who depended on the salaries I paid.
My anger became something sharper.
Determination.
"Tell me what you need."
Rachel nodded.
"First, we need a complete list of everyone who had access to your financial systems."
I began writing names.
Nathan.
Grace.
Our accountant.
Two senior managers.
Then I stopped.
A memory surfaced.
Three months earlier, Vanessa had come to the studio with Nathan.
She claimed she needed to print menus for a large event.
Nathan asked Grace to let her use the office computer.
I remembered Vanessa spending nearly an hour in my office.
When I asked why, Nathan laughed.
"She's your sister-in-law, Emily. Relax."
I looked up.
"Vanessa used my computer."
Daniel stopped typing.
"When?"
I told him.
His expression became serious.
"Do you still have the device?"
"Yes."
"We should preserve it for forensic review."
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Judith.
I watched the screen.
Rachel asked, "Do you want to answer?"
I shook my head.
"No."
A voicemail arrived seconds later.
I played it.
Judith's voice filled the room.
"Emily, this has gone far enough. You need to remember that Nathan is your husband. Marriage means sharing. You can't build wealth with a man and then refuse to help his family. Call me before you destroy everything."
I stared at the phone.
Marriage means sharing.
Apparently, it also meant secretly transferring money into her daughter's business.
Rachel asked me to save the voicemail.
I did.
That afternoon, Dad called.
"Emily, are you free for lunch?"
I hesitated.
"I'm working with the attorneys."
"I know. I have something important to tell you."
We met at a quiet restaurant near his office.
My father looked unusually serious.
After ordering, he placed an old folder on the table.
"Do you remember when Nathan asked me to invest in Judith's property?"
I frowned.
"When?"
"About six months ago."
I shook my head.
"He never told me."
Dad nodded.
"That's what I suspected."
He opened the folder.
Inside was a proposed business plan.
Cole Heritage Events Center.
The projected investment was three million dollars.
I stared at it.
"Three million?"
Dad nodded.
"Nathan approached me privately."
"What did he say?"
"He claimed you supported the project."
My stomach tightened.
"I didn't."
"I know."
Dad continued.
"He said your company would handle interior design and marketing. He wanted my construction firm to renovate the property."
I looked at him.
"Did you agree?"
"No."
Relief washed through me.
"Why?"
Dad leaned forward.
"Because the numbers didn't make sense."
He pointed to the projections.
"The property had outstanding obligations. The estimated renovation costs were unrealistic. And the expected revenue looked inflated."
I stared at the papers.
"Did Nathan know?"
"I explained everything to him."
My heart sank.
"So he knew the project was dangerous."
Dad nodded.
"He was warned."
I looked down.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
His expression softened.
"Because Nathan said he wanted to surprise you after securing financing. I told him I wouldn't participate without speaking directly to you."
I closed my eyes.
Dad continued.
"Two weeks later, Vanessa called me."
I looked up.
"What did she want?"
"She accused me of refusing to support family."
I almost laughed.
Of course she did.
Dad leaned back.
"Then Judith called."
My stomach tightened.
"What did she say?"
His face hardened.
"She told me you were too emotional to understand business."
I stared at him.
Dad continued.
"She said Nathan needed to make decisions for you."
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered, "They've been saying that for years."
Dad nodded sadly.
"I know."
I looked at the folder.
"Why didn't you warn me?"
He took a breath.
"I tried. Remember when I asked whether you were comfortable with Nathan handling your contracts?"
I remembered.
Three months earlier, Dad had mentioned that I should review my company's signing authority.
I had become defensive.
I told him Nathan was my husband and I trusted him.
Now shame flooded my face.
Dad reached for my hand.
"Emily, don't."
I looked at him.
"Don't blame yourself for trusting someone you loved."
My eyes filled.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Grace.
Emily, you need to come to the office. Nathan is here with Vanessa. They're demanding access to the project files.
I stood immediately.
Dad looked up.
"What happened?"
I showed him the message.
His expression hardened.
"Let's go."
When we arrived at my studio, Nathan was standing near the reception desk.
Vanessa stood beside him.
Grace looked frightened.
Nathan turned when he saw me.
"Finally."
I stopped several feet away.
"What are you doing here?"
He folded his arms.
"We need to discuss the hospitality project."
I looked at Vanessa.
She smiled coldly.
"Nice to see you, Emily."
My cheek seemed to burn again.
I ignored her.
Nathan stepped forward.
"You're creating unnecessary problems."
I looked directly at him.
"Did you forge my signature?"
His expression changed.
"What?"
I held up the contract.
"Did you use my company's financial statements to get a loan?"
Vanessa laughed.
"You're being ridiculous."
I turned toward her.
"Did you access my computer?"
Her smile disappeared.
Nathan stepped between us.
"Emily, stop interrogating my sister."
My father moved beside me.
"Nathan, answer the questions."
Nathan looked startled.
"Robert?"
Dad's voice was calm.
"Did you authorize financial transactions using Emily's name?"
Nathan stared at him.
Then his expression hardened.
"This is family business."
My father shook his head.
"No."
He pointed toward the office.
"This is my daughter's business."
Nathan looked at me.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes.
Then Vanessa said something that changed everything.
"Tell her about the guarantee, Nathan."
He turned sharply.
"Vanessa, shut up."
The room went silent.
I looked at him.
"What guarantee?"
Nathan didn't answer.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
Then smiled.
"The one that makes sure Emily can't walk away from us without paying."
May you like
I felt my stomach drop.
And suddenly, I understood that the financial betrayal was even bigger than I imagined.
