Chapter 6 - The Invoice Nobody Mentioned
Tessa seemed to realize she'd spoken too loudly. Grant reached for the tablet, but Vanessa caught his wrist.
“Show me,” she said.
“It's business,” he snapped.
“It's our engagement.”
I watched them argue as though I were a stranger who'd wandered into the wrong movie. Then Tessa looked at me. “Ms. Carter, I'm sorry. I didn't know you hadn't approved it.”
“What exactly was I supposed to approve?”
She swallowed. “A sponsorship statement. Harborline's promotional deck says your accounting firm is underwriting the event.”
My mouth went dry. “My firm?”
Grant's smile reappeared. “It's marketing language.”
“You used the name of my employer?”
“Only in a draft.”
Tessa shook her head before she could stop herself. “It went to the investors yesterday.”
I took out my phone and called Priya again. She told me to notify the proper people at work immediately, accurately, and in writing. My employer, Bell & Mercer, had nothing to do with the charter. I hadn't been authorized to represent it. Any claim otherwise was false.
The senior partner who answered my call, Martin Bell, was eating breakfast with his family.
“Evelyn?” he said. “Is this urgent?”
“Yes. I need to disclose a possible misuse of our firm's name in an outside event. I had no role in authorizing it.”
Martin listened without interrupting. Then he said, “Send me the material you have. Our counsel will handle the business side. You did the right thing calling.”
His calm voice nearly undid me. I'd spent so much of my life defending myself that simple professional trust felt startling.
At the dock, Grant began directing the guests toward a nearby restaurant, promising an upgraded reception. Tessa looked miserable. Vanessa stood motionless under the banner.
I was ready to leave when Dad caught up with me near the parking lot.
“Your mother says you're going to sue the family.”
“I haven't said that.”
“Then why call a lawyer?”
“Because someone is putting my name on things I didn't sign.”
He glanced down at the paper in his hand. “There's something else I should tell you.”
I waited.
“Grant asked me last week to cosign a short-term loan.”
I stared at him. “Did you?”
May you like
Dad's voice dropped to a whisper.
“I signed something, Evelyn. I didn't read all of it.”
