Chapter 7: The Deal Behind the Bakery
Darius stared at the document in Victoria's hands.
A transfer of the bakery's commercial lease.
The proposed recipient was Cole Property Ventures, a company registered under Samantha Cole's name.
The effective date was today.
He looked at Ethan.
"You're transferring my bakery's lease?""
Ethan immediately shook his head.
"That's not what this is.""
Darius pointed at the document.
"Then explain it.""
"It's a restructuring proposal.""
"Why is Samantha's company receiving the lease?""
"Because the business needs a more flexible property arrangement.""
Darius laughed in disbelief.
"You're trying to take the building away from me.""
"Nobody is taking anything.""
"Then why is the transfer scheduled for this afternoon?""
Ethan put his briefcase on the counter.
"Listen carefully. The bakery is carrying significant expenses. We need to protect the investment. Samantha's company offered to assume certain liabilities.""
Victoria interrupted.
"That is not what the document says.""
Ethan turned toward her.
"Victoria, I would appreciate it if you didn't interfere in a conversation between business partners.""
She didn't flinch.
"I represent the investment group you approached. If you submitted false ownership documents, that directly concerns me.""
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Darius took the document.
The first page described a proposed transfer of the commercial lease. The second contained a schedule of outstanding business expenses.
The third page was more disturbing.
It listed an alleged loan from Cole Property Ventures to the bakery.
Amount: $85,000.
Darius looked up.
"I never received eighty-five thousand dollars.""
Ethan shrugged.
"It covered construction expenses.""
"Show me the transfers.""
"They were handled through the business accounts.""
"Then show me.""
Ethan opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Lorraine stood beside her son.
"That's what he told me at the bank," she said quietly.
"He kept mentioning money that I knew had never entered your account.""
Darius turned toward her.
"Why didn't you tell me yesterday?""
"I tried calling you. You were busy with the final inspection.""
She looked down.
"I didn't want to worry you before opening day.""
Darius squeezed her hand.
"You should never have to protect me from people who are hurting you.""
Ethan let out an impatient breath.
"Can we stop pretending your mother is some financial expert? She doesn't understand the structure.""
Lorraine looked at him.
"I understand when someone takes forty thousand dollars from my son and puts another person's name on it.""
Ethan rolled his eyes.
"That's not what happened.""
Victoria opened her folder.
"I would like to clarify something. Our investment group has not approved the proposed transfer. We were waiting for verification of the original capital contributions.""
Ethan turned sharply.
"You told me everything was ready.""
"I told you we needed the original documents.""
"You have them.""
"We have copies. The signatures are now being disputed.""
Ethan looked at Darius.
"This is what happens when you allow personal emotions to control business decisions.""
Darius stepped closer.
"You put my mother's name on a list and told people to keep her away from me.""
"That was an operational decision.""
"You forged my signature.""
"Prove that.""
"You used her money.""
"Prove that too.""
Ethan smiled.
It was the same confident smile he had worn throughout their partnership.
But this time, Darius noticed something behind it.
Fear.
Not fear of losing the bakery.
Fear of being discovered.
Darius turned to Victoria.
"Can you tell me whether this property transfer has been submitted to the landlord?""
Victoria checked the document.
"It appears a preliminary notice was sent.""
"By whom?""
"Your company representative.""
Darius looked at Ethan.
"Who has authority to represent the bakery?""
Ethan answered too quickly.
"Both of us.""
"Not for a lease transfer. The original agreement requires written consent from both partners.""
Victoria nodded.
"That's correct.""
Darius looked back at Ethan.
"And you don't have mine.""
Ethan lowered his voice.
"You're making a mistake.""
"No. I think I made one eighteen months ago.""
The bakery had grown quiet.
Maya stood near the espresso machine, holding a tray of empty cups.
Troy had moved away from the office doorway.
Kendra remained behind the counter.
Nobody was pretending this was an ordinary opening anymore.
Ethan glanced around.
"Let's finish this in private.""
Darius shook his head.
"You had no problem making my mother a public embarrassment. We can discuss your paperwork right here.""
Ethan's face reddened.
"Your mother is not part of this business.""
Lorraine spoke before Darius could respond.
"You're right. I never wanted to be.""
Ethan looked at her.
"Then stay out of it.""
Darius immediately stepped forward.
"Enough.""
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried across the room.
"You don't get to take her money, use her name, and then tell her to stay out of it.""
Ethan picked up his briefcase.
"I'm leaving.""
Victoria stood in his way.
"Before you go, I need you to confirm whether the documents you submitted are originals.""
Ethan stared at her.
"Move.""
"I won't.""
He looked toward the front door.
Then he noticed two people entering.
A middle-aged man in a blue suit walked in, followed by a woman carrying a document case.
The man introduced himself.
"Mr. Hayes? I'm Robert Miller, representing the property owner.""
Darius shook his hand.
"Good morning.""
Robert glanced at the tension.
"Is there a problem?""
Darius handed him the lease-transfer document.
"Apparently someone has submitted a request to transfer our lease to another company.""
Robert examined it.
His expression changed.
"This was submitted yesterday.""
Darius nodded.
"Did you approve it?""
"No. We requested additional verification.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"Robert, this is just a routine restructuring.""
Robert looked at him.
"Then why did you submit a transfer request without the owner's required authorization?""
Ethan said nothing.
Robert turned toward Darius.
"Mr. Hayes, I need to speak with you about the original lease.""
"Of course.""
He opened his document case and removed a sealed envelope.
"This was delivered to our office yesterday afternoon. It concerns the bakery's security deposit and a proposed change to the lease guarantor.""
Darius frowned.
"Who sent it?""
Robert checked the first page.
"Ethan Cole.""
Darius looked at his partner.
Robert continued.
"According to this letter, you agreed to replace your personal guarantee with one provided by Cole Property Ventures.""
Darius shook his head.
"I never agreed to that.""
Robert looked surprised.
"Then I suggest you read the attached authorization.""
He handed Darius the document.
At the bottom was another signature.
This one looked exactly like his.
But the date was different.
It had been signed six weeks earlier.
Darius stared at it.
Then Lorraine leaned over his shoulder.
She studied the signature.
And suddenly she remembered where she had seen it before.
"Darling," she whispered.
Darius turned.
"What?""
She pointed to the witness section.
There was a name beside the signature.
*Samantha Cole.*
Lorraine looked toward Ethan.
"She was at the bank too.""
Darius felt his stomach tighten.
"Mom, are you sure?""
Lorraine nodded.
"I remember her. She was sitting beside Ethan when he showed me the paperwork.""
Ethan took a step backward.
Robert closed his document case.
"I think we need to stop all processing until these signatures are verified.""
Victoria nodded.
"Agreed.""
Darius looked at Ethan.
"Where is Samantha?""
Ethan's eyes moved toward the entrance.
Then the bakery door opened again.
A woman in an elegant cream coat walked inside.
She was carrying a black handbag.
Her eyes immediately found Ethan.
Then they moved to the documents in Darius's hands.
She stopped.
"Ethan," she said quietly.
He didn't answer.
Darius looked at her.
"Samantha?""
She gave him a cautious smile.
"Hello, Darius.""
He held up the lease authorization.
"Would you mind explaining why your name is on this?""
Samantha looked at the paper.
Then she looked at Lorraine.
For one brief moment, her expression revealed something that Ethan's had not.
Recognition.
And guilt.
May you like
She took a slow breath.
"I think it's time you heard the whole story.""
