Chapter 5: The Brother Who Signed Behind Her Back
"Don't bring my brother into this.""
Tessa's voice was quiet.
Miles looked almost relieved that she had finally reacted.
"Then stop pretending you know everything.""
Nora glanced at Tessa.
"Do you want me to stay?""
"Yes.""
Miles laughed without humor.
"Of course. You need an audience.""
Tessa stepped back into the office.
"Explain what my brother has to do with my money.""
Miles picked up his phone.
"Call him.""
"Who?""
"Andre.""
Tessa felt a familiar knot form in her stomach.
Andre Williams was her thirty-five-year-old younger brother. He worked in commercial real estate and had introduced Miles to several contractors during the restaurant's early planning stages.
The brothers-in-law had always gotten along.
Or so she had believed.
"Why would I call Andre?"" she asked.
"Because he's involved in the restaurant's management company.""
Tessa looked at Nora.
"Did you know this?""
Nora shook her head.
"I found his name on one of the supporting documents tonight.""
Miles placed his phone on the desk.
"Andre helped me organize the company structure. He understood what needed to happen.""
Tessa stared at him.
"What exactly did he organize?""
"The management agreement.""
"Did he know about the ownership transfer?""
Miles hesitated.
"Yes.""
"And did he know you were using my signature?""
"That's not how it happened.""
"Then tell me how it happened.""
Miles rubbed his jaw.
"Your brother signed as a witness to the original authorization.""
Tessa's chest tightened.
She looked at the document again.
There were two names beneath the ownership declaration.
Miles Carter.
Andre Williams.
Her brother's signature was visible beside the witness line.
Tessa pulled out her phone.
She called Andre.
He answered on the fourth ring.
"Hey, sis. What's up?""
His voice sounded casual.
Almost cheerful.
Tessa closed her eyes briefly.
"Andre, are you involved in Carter House Management LLC?""
There was a pause.
"Who told you that?""
"Miles.""
Another pause.
"Look, I can explain.""
"Did you sign an ownership agreement involving my investment?""
"Tessa, listen—"
"Did you?""
Andre sighed.
"Yes.""
The answer landed like a physical blow.
Tessa gripped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because Miles said you approved the structure.""
"I never approved it.""
"He told me you wanted to keep your name off the restaurant because of your other business.""
Tessa looked at Miles.
He was watching her carefully.
"Did you ever ask me?""
Andre was quiet.
"Not directly.""
"Why not?""
"He said you two had already discussed it.""
Tessa pressed her lips together.
"Andre, did you receive money?""
The silence lasted too long.
"Andre.""
"Some consulting fees.""
"How much?""
He exhaled.
"Twenty thousand.""
Nora immediately looked up from her tablet.
Tessa felt the room tilt slightly.
"Twenty thousand dollars?""
"It wasn't like that.""
"Then what was it like?""
Andre's voice became defensive.
"Miles said he needed help getting the business organized. I introduced him to people, reviewed some documents, and helped with the setup.""
"Did you know he was transferring company money into his management account?""
"I thought it was legitimate.""
"Did you know he was preparing a document saying I had surrendered my ownership rights?""
Andre didn't answer.
Tessa looked at the tablet.
Her brother had witnessed the document.
He had accepted payment.
And he hadn't called her once.
"Andre, did you sign that statement knowing it wasn't true?""
"I didn't know what the final document said.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He became irritated.
"Why are you talking to me like I'm a criminal? I'm your brother.""
"Then why did you take money to help my husband remove me from my own investment?""
"That's not what I was doing!""
"Then what were you doing?""
Andre's voice dropped.
"Miles told me you were planning to leave him.""
Tessa stopped breathing for a moment.
"What?""
"He said you were getting ready to separate. He said you were going to pull your money out and leave him with all the debt.""
She slowly turned toward Miles.
He looked away.
Andre continued.
"He said he wanted to protect what he'd built before you changed your mind.""
Tessa felt a strange calm settle over her.
So this wasn't simply a business disagreement.
Miles had been preparing for her departure while still accepting her money.
And he had convinced her own brother to help him.
"Andre," she said, "did Miles tell you about Sienna?""
A pause.
Then a quieter voice.
"Yes.""
Tessa's hand tightened around the phone.
"You knew?""
"He said it was over between you two emotionally.""
"Did he tell you I knew?""
Andre didn't answer.
Tessa laughed once.
It wasn't a happy sound.
"You knew he was cheating on me, and you still took his money.""
"I didn't want to get involved in your marriage.""
"But you were comfortable getting involved in my company.""
"Tessa, don't do this.""
She looked at the wedding ring on her hand.
"I have spent seven years protecting this family.""
Andre interrupted.
"And I've spent my whole life being your brother! I thought you would understand.""
"Understand what?""
"That Miles was trying to build something. You already have your company. You have everything. He wanted one thing that belonged to him.""
Tessa stared at the phone.
"Then he should have built it with his own money.""
Andre sighed.
"You always make everything about money.""
"No. I make financial agreements about money. That's what responsible adults do.""
She ended the call.
For several seconds, she couldn't move.
Nora approached carefully.
"Tessa?""
She nodded.
"I'm okay.""
But she wasn't.
She had expected betrayal from Miles after what happened tonight.
She hadn't expected her brother to be standing behind him.
Nora turned her tablet toward her.
"There's another issue.""
Tessa looked down.
The spreadsheet showed a series of payments to Carter House Management LLC.
The first transfer was $12,500.
The second was $8,000.
The third was $20,000.
The recipient description for the third payment read:
Consulting services — Andre Williams.
Tessa stared at it.
"That's his payment.""
"Yes," Nora said.
"But there's something else. The $20,000 wasn't paid from Miles's personal account. It came from the renovation budget.""
Tessa looked up.
"Meaning?""
"Your company funded the payment that went to your brother.""
Tessa slowly lowered herself into the office chair.
Miles finally spoke.
"Andre earned that money.""
Tessa turned toward him.
"Then show me the work he completed.""
"He helped me.""
"Show me the invoices.""
Miles said nothing.
"Show me the contracts.""
Still nothing.
Nora closed the spreadsheet.
"We'll need to review the underlying records before making any conclusions.""
Tessa nodded.
"Do that.""
Miles moved closer.
"You're seriously going to investigate your own family?""
Tessa looked at him.
"My family has been investigating how much they can take from me. It's time I investigated the numbers.""
A new message appeared on her phone.
It was from Andre.
Please don't let Nora freeze the entire account. I have something important to tell you about Miles.
Tessa read it twice.
Then another message arrived.
He has another investor. Someone who was supposed to take your place.
Tessa looked at Miles.
His expression changed when he saw her face.
"What?"" he demanded.
She slowly turned the phone toward him.
"Who is the other investor?""
Miles didn't answer.
May you like
But his silence told her that Andre hadn't been lying.
And whoever that investor was, they had apparently been promised a restaurant that Tessa had already paid to build.
