Chapter 6 - The Signature
“Who signed my name?” Claire asked.
No one answered.
She turned to Ethan. “Did you?”
“No.”
“To your father?”
Richard’s voice was low. “Claire, let’s not do this in a hallway.”
“That is not an answer.”
“I did not forge your signature.”
“Then who did?”
Vanessa appeared around the corner.
She had changed nothing about her appearance except her expression. The arrogance was gone. Now she looked angry and frightened.
“Mom wants everyone in the library,” she said.
Claire laughed once. “Of course she does.”
Ethan stepped between them. “Vanessa, did you access the security system?”
“No.”
“Did Mom give you a keycard?”
Vanessa looked at Richard.
That was enough.
Ethan’s face hardened. “You did.”
“Ethan, you don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand.”
Vanessa glanced at Claire’s phone. “Where did you get that photo?”
Claire held it against her chest. “Why does it matter?”
“Because whoever sent it is lying to you.”
“Is the document fake?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Claire stepped closer. “Is the document fake?”
“No.”
Mia swore under her breath.
Vanessa quickly added, “But you’re missing the context.”
“What context makes forging my name acceptable?”
“It wasn’t supposed to be used.”
Richard said sharply, “Vanessa.”
She stopped.
Claire looked from father to daughter.
“You all knew.”
Ethan shook his head. “I didn’t.”
Vanessa gave him a bitter look. “You knew enough.”
He stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Vanessa’s eyes flashed. “Ask Dad why the company needs Claire’s vote by Monday.”
Richard’s face turned gray.
Claire felt the room tilt.
“Monday?” she said.
Richard spoke through clenched teeth. “Stop talking.”
Vanessa laughed. “Why? We’re pretending to care about honesty now?”
Ethan stepped toward his father. “What happens Monday?”
Richard said nothing.
Vanessa answered.
“The bank calls the loan.”
Silence.
Claire looked at Ethan.
His shock seemed real.
May you like
Then Vanessa delivered the part that hurt most.
“And if Claire votes with us after the wedding, the family keeps the company. If she doesn’t, we lose everything.”
