Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Money
The next morning, Desmond arrived at the solicitor's office with his mother.
Margaret wore her best navy coat and carried the envelope on her lap.
She looked nervous.
“Do you think they'll be angry with me for signing?””
Desmond shook his head.
“You haven't done anything wrong by trusting someone.””
“But I should have read everything.””
“Maybe. But that doesn't give anyone permission to mislead you.””
The solicitor, a woman named Helen Carter, greeted them at the reception desk.
She was in her early fifties, with short dark hair and a calm manner that immediately put Margaret at ease.
“Mrs. Desmond, come in. Let's take a look at what you've received.””
They sat around a wooden conference table.
Helen examined the authorization form, the bank statement, and the finance company's notice.
She made several notes.
“First, I want to reassure you that the documents you've brought do not establish that your property has already been transferred or that a charge has been completed.””
Margaret exhaled.
“But I signed something.””
“Yes. And we need to understand exactly what you agreed to and whether the necessary legal conditions were satisfied.””
Desmond leaned forward.
“Can the finance company use her property without her signing additional documents?””
Helen studied the paperwork.
“Based on what you've shown me, the property security process appears incomplete. But I want to review the original agreement and communicate directly with the lender.””
She turned toward Margaret.
“Did anyone explain that you could become responsible for the business debt if the borrower failed to pay?””
Margaret shook her head.
“No. Nadia said I was simply helping her establish a financial reference.””
Helen made another note.
“Did you receive independent advice before signing?””
“No.””
“Did you receive a copy of the documents?””
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
“Nadia said she would send me one.””
“Did she?””
Margaret shook her head.
Helen put down her pen.
“All right. We will request the full agreement and the records of every document submitted in your name. In the meantime, do not sign anything else.””
Desmond nodded.
“What about the money already transferred?””
“That requires a separate review. We need to establish which account received the funds and what the lender's records show.””
Desmond showed her the photograph of Daniel's message.
Helen read it carefully.
Then she looked up.
“Who is Daniel Price?””
“My wife's business consultant.””
“Have you met him?””
“No.””
“Do you know what services he was supposed to provide?””
“Only what Nadia told me.””
Helen placed the phone on the table.
“I recommend that you preserve this message and avoid confronting anyone about it until we've reviewed the relevant financial records.””
Margaret looked worried.
“Is my house going to be taken?””
Helen reached across the table.
“That's not something we can conclude from these papers. But we can act promptly to protect your interests.””
For the first time that morning, Margaret smiled faintly.
“Thank you.””
After the appointment, Desmond drove his mother home.
He stayed long enough to fix a loose kitchen cabinet and replace the batteries in her smoke detector.
Then he received a call from an unknown number.
“Hello?””
“Mr. Desmond? This is Patricia from the finance company.””
He stepped outside.
“Yes.””
“We've reviewed the documents you requested. There is something unusual about the application.””
“What is it?””
“The business consultant listed on the application is also recorded as the recipient of a substantial transfer from the credit facility.””
Desmond's grip tightened around the phone.
“Daniel Price?””
“Yes, sir.””
“How much?””
“Six thousand five hundred dollars.””
Desmond closed his eyes.
“Is that the same payment I saw on the invoice?””
“Yes.””
“Who authorized it?””
“The borrower submitted the payment request.””
“Nadia?””
“Yes.””
Desmond thanked her and ended the call.
He stood on the porch for several seconds.
The amount matched the message.
But the message had asked about a second transfer.
He needed to know whether more money had gone missing.
He called Nadia.
She answered after four rings.
“What?””
“Can we talk?””
“I'm working.””
“It's about Daniel Price.””
Silence.
Then she said, “What about him?””
“The finance company confirmed the six-thousand-five-hundred-dollar transfer.””
“Okay.””
“What was the second transfer?””
Her breathing changed.
“Desmond, I told you. I don't want to discuss this over the phone.””
“Then tell me when we can talk.””
“Tonight.””
“Fine.””
She hung up.
That afternoon, Desmond visited the salon.
The front door was unlocked, but the lights were off.
He found Nadia in the office, sitting at her desk with several receipts spread across the table.
She looked up.
“You could have called.””
“I did.””
She pushed the papers aside.
“What do you want?””
“The truth about Daniel.””
Nadia sighed.
“Daniel was helping me expand the business.””
“Why did you transfer him money?””
“He was supposed to arrange suppliers and advertising.””
“Did he?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he tell you not to let my mother contact the solicitor?””
Nadia's face went pale.
Desmond waited.
Finally, she whispered, “You read his message.””
“I did.””
“You shouldn't have touched my phone.””
“You left it on the table.””
“That doesn't give you the right to read my private messages.””
“Does your privacy include using my mother's house to support your business debts?””
Nadia stood.
“You keep bringing her into everything!””
“Because you put her into the agreement!””
She looked toward the office door.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Daniel said he could help me get a better credit arrangement. He introduced me to a finance company and told me what documents they needed.””
“Did he tell you your mother-in-law's property would be listed?””
“I knew it was mentioned.””
“Did you tell Margaret?””
Nadia looked down.
“I thought it was temporary.””
“That's not an answer.””
She walked toward the window.
“Daniel said the loan would be paid back quickly. He said once the salon started earning money, everything would be settled.””
Desmond rubbed his face.
“And the second transfer?””
Nadia didn't move.
He repeated the question.
“Where did the second transfer go?””
She slowly turned around.
“Daniel asked for another payment.””
“How much?””
“Three thousand.””
Desmond stared at her.
“Three thousand dollars?””
“He said it was an administrative fee.””
“Did you receive an invoice?””
“No.””
“Did you sign an agreement?””
“He said he would send one.””
“Did he?””
Nadia shook her head.
Desmond felt a deep heaviness settle in his chest.
“Why would you give someone three thousand dollars without an invoice?””
“Because he said the opportunity would disappear if I waited.””
“What opportunity?””
“A second location.””
Desmond looked around the small office.
“You were planning a second location before this salon had even opened?””
Nadia's eyes filled.
“I wanted something bigger.””
“And you were willing to risk my mother's home to get it?””
“I thought I could repay everything.””
Desmond sat down.
He wasn't shouting anymore.
That somehow made the silence worse.
“Did you transfer the three thousand from the credit facility?””
“No.””
“Then where did it come from?””
Nadia hesitated.
Finally, she opened her desk drawer and removed a folded bank statement.
She placed it in front of him.
Desmond looked at the transaction.
The money hadn't come from the business account.
It had come from the savings account he had set up for their future home renovations.
The account he had told Nadia she could access for emergencies.
He looked at the date.
Then he looked at the amount.
Three thousand dollars.
“Nadia, you used our savings?””
“I was going to put it back.””
“When?””
“When the salon started making money.””
Desmond slowly pushed the statement away.
He thought about the roof.
His mother's leaking bedroom.
The buckets catching rainwater.
The envelope she had brought to the salon with trembling hands.
And now this.
He stood.
“I need the name of Daniel's company.””
“Why?””
“Because I'm going to verify whether he actually works there.””
“He does.””
“Then this should be easy.””
Nadia looked frightened.
“Desmond, please don't make this worse.””
He turned toward the door.
“I'm not the one who made it worse.””
Just then, a man entered the salon.
He was wearing a gray suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
Nadia immediately stood.
“Daniel.””
Desmond turned.
The man looked at him, then extended his hand.
“You must be Desmond. I've heard quite a bit about you.””
Desmond didn't shake it.
“Have you?””
Daniel lowered his hand.
“I'm Daniel Price. I help Nadia with the business side of things.””
“I know who you are.””
Daniel smiled politely.
“Good. Then perhaps we can clear up a few misunderstandings.””
Desmond studied him.
“Why did you ask Nadia to stop my mother from contacting her solicitor?””
For the first time, Daniel's smile disappeared.
He glanced at Nadia.
Then he closed the salon door behind him.
“Because,” he said carefully, “your mother isn't the only person who signed something she doesn't fully understand.””
Desmond felt his stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel placed his briefcase on the reception counter.
Then he removed a thick folder.
“There is another agreement,” he said.
“And this one has your signature on it.””
Desmond stared at the folder.
He had never signed anything with Daniel Price.
Yet when Daniel opened the first page, Desmond recognized the signature immediately.
May you like
It was his.
And beneath it was a date from three months before the salon opened.
