Chapter 6: The Signature She Never Gave
Lorraine stared at the document.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then she shook her head.
"No.""
Victoria looked confused.
"I'm sorry?""
"I never signed that.""
Darius took the folder from her.
"Where did you get this?""
"Ethan provided it yesterday.""
"Did you witness my mother signing it?""
Victoria hesitated.
"No. Ethan assured us that all parties had completed the necessary paperwork.""
Lorraine stepped closer.
"Ma'am, I have never met you before today.""
Victoria looked from mother to son.
Her professional smile disappeared.
"Then we may have a serious problem.""
Darius turned the page.
The document contained several paragraphs describing the transfer of Lorraine's original contribution.
The amount was listed as forty thousand dollars.
The date was two days earlier.
At the bottom was Lorraine's name, followed by a signature that looked convincing at first glance.
But Darius noticed something.
His mother's middle initial was missing.
She always included it when signing financial documents.
He remembered because she had corrected him about it years ago.
"Mom, is this your handwriting?""
Lorraine shook her head.
"No.""
Victoria took the folder back carefully.
"Let me be clear. Our group has not transferred any funds based on this document. We were waiting for today's confirmation.""
Darius looked at her.
"Confirmation of what?""
"That the contribution had been properly assigned and that the ownership structure was finalized.""
Darius pointed toward the display.
"Ethan presented my mother's money as an investment from his company. Then he submitted an ownership amendment with my forged signature.""
Victoria's face became serious.
"You're saying the records are false?""
"I'm saying I never signed them.""
She closed the folder.
"Then I will need to speak with our legal department before proceeding.""
"Good.""
Victoria glanced at Lorraine.
"Mrs. Hayes, do you have any identification or banking records that establish the original transfer?""
Lorraine nodded.
"I brought a copy of the transfer confirmation when I came here.""
Darius turned toward her.
"You did?""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small envelope.
"I thought you might need it for the opening display. You once asked me whether I still had the receipt.""
Darius opened the envelope.
Inside was a bank transfer confirmation showing forty thousand dollars transferred from Lorraine's personal savings account to Darius's business account.
The date matched the receipt on the wall.
The recipient was correct.
And the reference line read:
*PERSONAL GIFT TO SON — BAKERY STARTUP.*
Victoria studied the document.
"This is helpful.""
Lorraine nodded.
"I didn't lend him the money. I gave it to him.""
Darius felt a painful lump rise in his throat.
He remembered his mother insisting that he take the money.
He had initially refused.
She had told him she wanted to see his dream become real while she was still alive to enjoy it.
Now someone had taken that gift and used it to build a false financial story.
Victoria turned toward Darius.
"I suggest you preserve every document and contact your attorney immediately.""
"I intend to.""
She glanced toward the entrance.
"Is Ethan here?""
Darius shook his head.
"Not yet.""
Victoria looked at her watch.
"He told me he would arrive before the ceremony.""
Darius looked at Kendra.
She was standing behind the counter, her face pale.
"Did you know about this document?""
Kendra shook her head quickly.
"No.""
"Did you know Ethan was using my mother's money?""
"No.""
"Did you know he was changing the ownership records?""
"I knew about the amendment, but I didn't know the signature was forged.""
Darius studied her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Kendra looked down.
"Because I thought you had approved it.""
"You thought I approved an agreement that cut my ownership down by twenty percent without discussing it with me?""
She didn't answer.
Troy stepped forward.
"Let's be fair. Ethan handled most of the financial arrangements. We were told to follow his instructions.""
Darius turned toward him.
"Following instructions doesn't mean you stop using common sense.""
Troy's face reddened.
Kendra looked toward Lorraine.
"Mrs. Hayes, I really am sorry.""
Lorraine studied her.
"Do you know what hurt me most?""
Kendra shook her head.
"It wasn't the chair.""
Lorraine paused.
"It wasn't even the cloth.""
Kendra lowered her eyes.
"It was that I told you who I was. I told you I came to celebrate my son. And you decided that I wasn't worth listening to.""
Kendra swallowed.
"I understand.""
Lorraine looked at her for a long moment.
"Do you?""
Kendra had no answer.
A sudden noise came from the front entrance.
The door swung open.
Ethan walked in wearing a charcoal suit, carrying a leather briefcase.
He smiled broadly.
"There's my business partner!""
Then he noticed Victoria.
His smile weakened.
"Victoria. I didn't expect you to arrive so early.""
Victoria closed her folder.
"Ethan, we need to discuss the documents you submitted.""
He glanced at Darius.
"What happened?""
Darius held up the ownership amendment.
"That's what I'd like to know.""
Ethan sighed.
"Not here.""
"Why not?""
"Because we have guests.""
Darius looked toward the waiting area.
Several customers were watching.
"That's never stopped you before.""
Ethan lowered his voice.
"Let's go into the office.""
Darius didn't move.
"Did you forge my signature?""
Ethan stared at him.
Then he laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Did you?""
"Of course not.""
"Did you create a false document claiming my mother transferred her contribution to your company?""
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Your mother agreed to the arrangement.""
Lorraine stepped forward.
"No, I didn't.""
Ethan looked at her with irritation.
"Mrs. Hayes, please. This is a business matter.""
Lorraine held up the bank receipt.
"It became my business when you started using my money and my name.""
Ethan glanced at the document.
Then he looked toward Victoria.
"There's been a misunderstanding.""
Victoria crossed her arms.
"Then explain why the original transfer confirmation identifies the money as a personal gift, while your submitted agreement identifies it as an assigned investment.""
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"That was a preliminary classification.""
Darius shook his head.
"Stop lying.""
Ethan looked around.
His eyes landed on the customers.
Then he lowered his voice.
"You need to think carefully about what you're doing. This bakery cannot survive without my investment.""
Darius stepped closer.
"My bakery survived because of my work and my mother's sacrifice.""
Ethan gave a cold smile.
"Your bakery? You should look at the ownership records.""
Darius held up the amendment.
"I did.""
"Then you know where things stand.""
"Not if you forged my signature.""
Ethan's smile vanished.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely angry.
"You don't understand how much I've done for this place.""
"I understand that you took my mother's gift and tried to turn it into your investment.""
"I protected the company.""
"From what?""
"From people who don't understand business.""
Ethan looked directly at Lorraine.
The older woman didn't look away.
"Your mother doesn't understand how these things work," he said.
Darius moved between them.
"Don't talk about her like that.""
Ethan raised both hands.
"Fine. But we have a problem. The investment group needs certainty. If you refuse to honor the agreement, the funding disappears.""
Victoria spoke calmly.
"Our group will not proceed until the authenticity of these documents is established.""
Ethan turned toward her.
"Victoria, come on. We have a signed agreement.""
She opened her folder again.
"Then you should have no problem providing the original.""
Ethan hesitated.
Darius noticed.
"Where is it?""
Ethan looked toward his briefcase.
"At my office.""
"Bring it.""
"I'll send it later.""
"No. Bring it now.""
Ethan's face tightened.
"You don't give me orders.""
Darius stared at him.
"I just asked you to prove that the documents are real.""
Ethan took one step backward.
Then his phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
He quickly turned away and answered.
"Yes?""
A woman's voice came through loudly enough for Darius to hear part of it.
"Ethan, did you get rid of the original bank receipt?""
Ethan froze.
Darius looked at Victoria.
Then at Lorraine.
The woman on the phone continued.
"Because if Mrs. Hayes has the original, the whole thing falls apart.""
Ethan immediately lowered the phone.
"Not now.""
But the damage was done.
Darius stepped closer.
"Who is that?""
Ethan ended the call.
"Nobody.""
Darius held his gaze.
"Who knows about the original receipt?""
Ethan said nothing.
Then Darius noticed the name flashing briefly on the phone screen before it went dark.
*Samantha Cole.*
Ethan's wife.
And the woman who had helped choose the bakery's investors.
Darius looked at his partner.
"Why does your wife know about my mother's receipt?""
Ethan gripped his briefcase.
For the first time that morning, he looked afraid.
And Lorraine, watching him carefully, suddenly remembered something.
A conversation she had overheard outside the bank the previous afternoon.
She reached for Darius's arm.
"There's something else.""
He turned.
"What, Mom?""
Lorraine looked directly at Ethan.
"Yesterday, when he thought I wasn't listening, he mentioned another name.""
Darius waited.
Lorraine took a breath.
"He said the money wasn't supposed to stay in the bakery.""
Ethan's face went white.
Lorraine continued.
"He said it was only the first payment.""
Darius stared at his partner.
"First payment for what?""
Nobody answered.
Then Victoria slowly opened her folder and removed one final document.
It showed a proposed transfer of the bakery's commercial property lease to a separate company.
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The company was owned by Samantha Cole.
And the transfer date was scheduled for that very afternoon.
