Chapter 5: The Signature That Wasn't Hers
Tessa didn't leave the restaurant immediately.
She stepped into the small lobby near the entrance and called her attorney.
"Marcus, explain what you just sent me.""
Marcus Reed had represented her during the final stages of her divorce and the financial dissolution of the old restaurant.
He was careful, methodical, and rarely called clients without a reason.
"Tessa, I received a document from the lender's legal department this afternoon," he said.
"What document?""
"A copy of a personal guarantee dated four years ago. It lists you and Curtis as joint guarantors.""
Tessa frowned.
"I never signed a personal guarantee.""
"That's exactly what I told them.""
"Then why is my name on it?""
"That's what we're investigating.""
She closed her eyes.
For four years, she had believed the bankruptcy had ended her involvement with the old restaurant.
She remembered signing documents during the proceedings.
She remembered meeting with creditors.
She remembered surrendering equipment and agreeing to a settlement involving the remaining business assets.
But she had never agreed to personally guarantee a loan.
"Marcus, send me the document.""
"I already emailed it.""
Tessa opened her inbox.
A PDF appeared at the top.
She downloaded it.
The first page showed the old restaurant's name.
The second listed the original loan amount.
The third contained a signature section.
Her name appeared beneath a signature that looked strangely familiar.
She enlarged the image.
Her stomach dropped.
It resembled her handwriting.
But something was wrong with the final letter.
She always crossed the letter T with a long horizontal stroke.
This signature didn't.
"Marcus," she whispered, "that's not my signature.""
"I know.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I have the original documents you signed during the bankruptcy proceedings. The handwriting doesn't match.""
Tessa gripped her phone.
"How much is the loan?""
"The original balance was around ninety thousand dollars. With interest, fees, and other charges, the lender is now claiming more than one hundred and thirty thousand.""
Tessa stared at the screen.
"You're telling me someone is trying to collect that money from me?""
"At this stage, they're claiming you are liable. We are disputing it.""
"Did Curtis know?""
There was a pause.
"I can't prove that yet.""
Tessa looked through the glass doors.
Inside, Curtis was still talking to Bianca.
He seemed agitated.
His hands moved constantly as he tried to explain something.
"Marcus, I need to ask you something.""
"Go ahead.""
"Could this be connected to the money he withdrew from the restaurant?""
"It's possible. The timing is worth investigating.""
Tessa's voice became quieter.
"Then I want every bank statement, every loan agreement, and every transfer record from that period.""
"I'll request the complete file.""
"Don't send anything to Curtis.""
"I wouldn't.""
She ended the call.
For several seconds, she simply stood there.
The lobby smelled faintly of polished wood and fresh flowers.
A couple walked past her, laughing as they entered the restaurant.
Tessa looked down at the document again.
She had spent four years rebuilding her life.
She had worked through exhaustion, dealt with suppliers who refused to extend credit, and borrowed money when no bank wanted to take a chance on her.
She had finally reached a point where her business could stand on its own.
Now, an old signature threatened to drag her back into a financial disaster she had never created.
Lionel approached.
"Chef, everything okay?""
Tessa locked her phone.
"I need to make a call from the office.""
"Should I drive you?""
"No, thank you. I have my car.""
Lionel studied her expression.
"Is it about the old restaurant?""
She looked at him.
He nodded toward the phone.
"You look like you just received bad news.""
Tessa hesitated.
"Someone may be trying to hold me responsible for a debt I never agreed to.""
Lionel's expression hardened.
"Do you need help?""
"Not yet.""
"All right. But don't forget we have an entire team behind you.""
Tessa gave him a small smile.
"Thank you.""
Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, Bianca had moved to a quieter table near the windows.
She was on the phone with her accountant, Denise.
"Can you review the loan proposal tonight?"" Bianca asked.
Denise's voice came through clearly.
"Send me the documents. I'll check the business projections and the guarantee requirements.""
"I also need you to look at Curtis's previous restaurant.""
"Why?""
"Because there may have been personal withdrawals from the operating account.""
Denise paused.
"How much?""
"According to an independent audit, approximately sixty-eight thousand dollars.""
"Bianca, has Curtis disclosed any outstanding personal debts?""
"He admitted to around eighty-five thousand.""
"Has he provided statements?""
"No.""
"Then don't sign anything.""
Bianca looked across the room.
Curtis was speaking with Raymond near the bar.
He kept glancing toward her.
"Denise, there's something else.""
"What?""
"He announced me as a business partner without my permission.""
Denise sighed.
"That's not a financial detail. That's a judgment problem.""
Bianca closed her eyes.
"I know.""
"Send me everything. And don't let anyone pressure you into signing tonight.""
"Thank you.""
She ended the call.
Curtis immediately approached.
"Who were you talking to?""
"My accountant.""
He pulled out a chair.
"Good. Tell her to hurry. We need to finalize this.""
Bianca looked at him.
"She said I shouldn't sign.""
Curtis laughed.
"She hasn't even seen the full business.""
"She doesn't need to. She needs to see the full financial history first.""
"You're letting outsiders make decisions about our future.""
"You're the one who asked me to guarantee a quarter-million-dollar loan.""
Curtis leaned forward.
"Listen. I have investors waiting. The contractors are expecting payments. The bank has given me a deadline.""
"Then why didn't you secure the financing before announcing the opening?""
He looked away.
Bianca studied his face.
"Curtis, how much of your own money is in this project?""
"Plenty.""
"How much?""
"I've invested what I could.""
"That's not a number.""
He rubbed his jaw.
"Thirty thousand.""
Bianca looked at the financial statement.
"Where did the other money come from?""
"Private financing.""
"From whom?""
"People I know.""
"Names?""
Curtis stood.
"I don't have to answer every question like I'm on trial.""
Bianca remained seated.
"No. But I have the right to know what I'm guaranteeing.""
He stared at her.
Then he leaned down and whispered.
"You're forgetting something.""
"What?""
"I chose you because I thought you were different.""
Bianca looked up.
"Different from whom?""
"From Tessa.""
There it was again.
The comparison.
The invisible competition he had created between two women who had never asked to be part of it.
Bianca slowly stood.
"I'm not Tessa.""
"Exactly.""
"And I'm not your financial rescue plan either.""
Curtis's face darkened.
He glanced toward the main dining room.
"Do you know how much I spent putting this opening together?""
"Yes.""
"Do you know how embarrassing it would be if people found out the financing fell apart?""
Bianca nodded.
"Now imagine how embarrassing it would be if I signed and later discovered you had hidden another hundred thousand dollars in debt.""
Curtis stepped closer.
"You're supposed to be my partner.""
"Then start treating me like one.""
Before he could respond, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed immediately.
He declined the call.
The phone rang again.
Bianca noticed the name displayed.
*MARCUS — LEGAL.*
"Who is Marcus?""
Curtis shoved the phone into his pocket.
"Nobody.""
"Nobody calls you twice during your own grand opening?""
"It's an old business matter.""
Bianca looked at him carefully.
"Does it have anything to do with the old restaurant?""
Curtis didn't answer.
His phone vibrated again.
This time, a message appeared on the screen.
Bianca caught only a few words before Curtis turned it over.
*The lender has identified the disputed signature. We need to discuss Tessa's guarantee immediately.*
Bianca's eyes narrowed.
"Tessa's guarantee?""
Curtis froze.
"Give me the phone.""
"Why is her name in a legal message?""
"It's complicated.""
"Everything with you is complicated.""
He grabbed the phone and walked toward the corridor.
But Bianca had already understood one thing.
The old restaurant wasn't simply a painful memory.
Its debts were still following them.
And Curtis seemed far more frightened by the possibility of Tessa discovering something than by Bianca refusing to sign the new loan.
A moment later, Bianca's phone vibrated.
It was a message from an unknown number.
*Bianca, this is Marcus Reed, Tessa's attorney. I believe you deserve to know something about the loan you're being asked to guarantee. Please don't sign anything until we speak.*
Bianca stared at the message.
May you like
Then she looked toward the corridor where Curtis had disappeared.
What exactly had he done with Tessa's name?
