Chapter 6: The Original Agreement
Mark spent the next twenty minutes pacing between the kitchen and the living room.
I had never seen him like that.
His tie was loose. His hair was disheveled. He kept running his fingers through it while speaking in a low voice on the phone.
"How much?""
Silence.
"That's impossible.""
Another pause.
"Did you contact Dad?""
He stopped beside the window.
"Then don't do anything until I get there.""
He ended the call.
I stood near the kitchen island.
"What happened?""
He looked at me.
"Nothing you need to worry about.""
I almost laughed.
"Your bank accounts are frozen, and you think that's none of my business?""
He grabbed his coat.
"Chloe, I need you to do something for me.""
I folded my arms.
"No.""
"You haven't even heard what I'm asking.""
"I've heard enough.""
He stepped closer.
"Listen. If anyone from the bank calls, don't say anything about the company.""
"Why?""
"Because they don't understand the full situation.""
"Then explain it to them.""
He shook his head.
"You don't understand how complicated this is.""
"You're right. I don't. Because you've spent six years making sure I never knew what was happening.""
He looked down.
For a moment, I thought he might finally tell me the truth.
Instead, he said:
"Don't let Rachel convince you to destroy your marriage.""
I stared at him.
"Mark, you destroyed our marriage when you forged my name.""
He left without another word.
At 9:14 p.m., Rachel called.
"Chloe, are you home?""
"Yes.""
"Good. I need to tell you something.""
Her voice was unusually serious.
"The bank has frozen two accounts associated with Bennett Development.""
"I heard.""
"How?""
"Mark received a call.""
Rachel paused.
"Then you need to know that the bank has also requested the original property transfer documents.""
I sat down.
"Why?""
"Because the copies submitted earlier don't match the records held by the county.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"It means someone may have submitted altered documents.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can they prove I didn't sign them?""
"We're getting closer.""
Rachel took a breath.
"But there's something else. The original authorization appears to have been signed by someone other than you.""
I felt my heart beating faster.
"Who?""
"We don't know yet.""
"How can you not know?""
"Because the signature is difficult to read. The bank is arranging a formal examination.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
"Rachel, what if they used my identity for everything?""
"Then we'll challenge each transaction individually.""
"How long will that take?""
"Possibly months.""
I looked upstairs.
"Months?""
"I know this is frightening. But we need to be methodical.""
I swallowed.
"Can you come over tomorrow?""
"Yes.""
"There's something else I need to tell you.""
I explained what Mark had said.
That Megan hadn't started the scheme.
That she had been following instructions.
Rachel was quiet.
Then she asked:
"Did he mention who gave her those instructions?""
"No.""
"Did you ask?""
"His phone rang.""
Rachel exhaled.
"Chloe, I think the next person we need to speak to is Megan.""
I stared at the window.
"Megan?""
"Yes.""
"She slapped my daughter.""
"I know.""
"Why would she tell me anything?""
"Because if she was involved in these transactions, she may be facing consequences too. People sometimes become more cooperative when they realize they're no longer protected.""
I thought about the Thanksgiving table.
Megan's raised hand.
Lily's frightened face.
Mark standing beside his sister.
I didn't want to speak to Megan.
But I needed answers.
"All right," I said.
"I'll arrange it.""
The following morning, I received a message from an unfamiliar number.
Chloe, it's Megan. I need to see you.
I stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Please. Don't tell Mark.
I showed Rachel.
She was sitting across from me at the kitchen table, reviewing the documents.
"That's interesting.""
"Do you think it's a trap?""
"I don't know. But if you meet her, choose a public place, and don't go alone.""
I typed a response.
Why?
Megan replied almost immediately.
Because I know what Mark did with your signature. And I know why Dad needed you to sign the new agreement.
I looked at Rachel.
"She knows something.""
Rachel nodded.
"Tell her you'll meet somewhere public. I'll come with you.""
At 11:30 a.m., we met Megan at a hotel café near downtown Chicago.
She was already seated when we arrived.
She wore oversized sunglasses and a cream-colored coat.
When she saw me, she stood.
"Chloe.""
I didn't return her greeting.
"Say what you need to say.""
She glanced at Rachel.
"Who's she?""
"My attorney.""
Megan's expression tightened.
"Of course.""
Rachel pulled out a chair.
"Let's get started.""
Megan sat down.
For several seconds, she stared at her hands.
Then she looked at me.
"I want to apologize for Thanksgiving.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why?""
She blinked.
"What do you mean?""
"Why are you apologizing now?""
"Because I shouldn't have hit Lily.""
"You're right.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I was angry.""
"She's five.""
"I know.""
"You slapped a five-year-old because she asked for another piece of turkey.""
Megan looked down.
"I know.""
I leaned forward.
"Do you understand what that did to her?""
She nodded.
"She cried all night.""
"No. She asked me whether Daddy was mad at her.""
Megan's face changed.
For the first time, she looked genuinely ashamed.
"I didn't know.""
"You didn't ask.""
She wiped her eyes.
Then Rachel spoke.
"Let's move to the reason you contacted Chloe.""
Megan took a deep breath.
"Mark has been using her name on company documents.""
I stared at her.
"We know.""
"Not just the loan guarantee.""
"What else?""
"Property transfers. Bank authorizations. There are other things.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"How do you know?""
"Because I was the one who prepared some of the paperwork.""
My stomach dropped.
"You prepared documents with my forged signature?""
Megan shook her head.
"Not all of them.""
"Which ones?""
"The original loan package.""
I stared at her.
"Who signed my name?""
She hesitated.
Then she said:
"Mark.""
Rachel took out her notebook.
"Did he have access to Chloe's genuine signature?""
Megan nodded.
"He had copies of her old documents.""
I felt sick.
"Why did you help him?""
Megan looked at me.
"Because Dad told us it was necessary.""
"Us?""
She nodded.
"Mark, me, and Dad.""
Rachel's pen stopped moving.
"Robert knew?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Megan.
"Then why did Linda act like she had no idea?""
Megan laughed bitterly.
"Mom knows more than anyone. She just pretends she doesn't.""
I leaned back.
"Why did you hit Lily?""
Megan stared at me.
"I told you. I was angry.""
"At a five-year-old?""
She looked away.
Then, very quietly, she said:
"Because Dad had spent the entire afternoon telling me that the family was falling apart because of you.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"He said you were making Mark choose between his marriage and the company. He said if you didn't sign the acknowledgment, everything would collapse.""
Rachel interrupted.
"That doesn't explain why you assaulted a child.""
"I know.""
Megan's voice cracked.
"I wasn't thinking.""
I stared at her.
"Neither was I, apparently, when I spent six years believing this family cared about us.""
She flinched.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a small envelope.
"I brought something.""
She slid it across the table.
Inside was a printed bank statement.
Rachel examined it.
"Where did you get this?""
"From the company's internal records.""
"What account?""
Megan looked at me.
"An account Dad controls.""
I studied the statement.
Several transfers were listed.
The amounts were large.
But one line caught my attention.
A transfer of $650,000 to a company called Northbridge Holdings.
The date was August 3.
The same day as the property transfer bearing my forged signature.
"Who owns Northbridge Holdings?""
Megan hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Linda.""
I looked up.
"Your mother?""
Megan nodded.
Rachel turned another page.
"Is there anything else?""
Megan reached into her bag again.
This time, she produced a USB drive.
"There's a recording.""
Rachel looked at it.
"Of what?""
"Of Dad and Mark discussing the property transfers.""
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"How did you get it?""
Megan looked around the café.
"I recorded them because I was afraid they were going to blame everything on me.""
Rachel didn't touch the drive.
"Why should we believe this is authentic?""
"Because I made it.""
She pushed it closer.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Chloe, there's something you need to understand. They didn't need your signature just to get the loan.""
"Then why?""
Megan swallowed.
"Because Dad planned to transfer the properties into a trust.""
Rachel's expression changed.
"What trust?""
Megan looked at me.
"A trust created in your name.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"Your name was supposed to be on the trust documents. The properties would technically belong to you.""
I shook my head.
"Why would they do that?""
Megan's eyes filled with tears.
"Because once the properties were transferred, Dad planned to use the trust to hide where the money came from.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"Was Chloe supposed to be the beneficiary?""
Megan nodded.
"Yes.""
I felt cold all over.
"So they were going to make it look like I owned the properties?""
"Yes.""
"And the missing money?""
Megan looked down.
"Would appear to have been invested through your trust.""
I stared at her.
They hadn't merely forged my signature to secure a loan.
They were preparing to make me look like the owner of assets connected to missing company funds.
I could become the person everyone blamed.
The person whose name appeared on every document.
The person left holding the consequences.
Rachel slowly placed the USB drive inside an evidence envelope.
"Who else knows about this?""
Megan hesitated.
Then she said:
"There's one more person.""
"Who?""
Megan looked toward the café entrance.
Her face went pale.
"Someone who was supposed to be the original trustee.""
I turned.
A man in a dark coat had just entered the room.
He looked directly at Megan.
Then he looked at me.
Megan whispered:
"That's him.""
Rachel stood.
"Who is he?""
Megan's lips trembled.
"My father's attorney.""
The man approached our table.
"Miss Bennett," he said to Megan.
"Your father has been looking for you.""
Then his eyes moved to me.
"Mrs. Bennett, I believe we need to have a conversation.""
That evening, Rachel called me after reviewing the first few minutes of Megan's recording.
Her voice was tense.
"Chloe, I need you to sit down.""
I was already sitting.
"What did you hear?""
"Robert and Mark are discussing the trust.""
"And?""
Rachel paused.
"Your father-in-law says the arrangement will only work if you remain unaware of the true ownership structure.""
I closed my eyes.
"Anything else?""
"Yes.""
"What?""
Rachel took a breath.
"Mark says he can get you to sign the acknowledgment by using Lily.""
My fingers went numb.
"What does that mean?""
Rachel's voice dropped.
"He says you'll do anything to protect your daughter.""
I stared at the dark television screen.
Then Rachel played the next few seconds.
Mark's voice came through clearly.
"Once Chloe understands that Lily's future depends on this, she'll sign. She won't risk losing the house.""
I stopped breathing.
And then Robert replied:
"Good. Because if she refuses, we'll have to use the other document.""
I gripped the phone.
"What other document?""
Rachel went silent.
May you like
Then she said:
"Chloe, I think we need to find out what your husband has already prepared for Lily.""
