Chapter 7: Someone Had Stolen My Identity
For several seconds, Danielle couldn't take her eyes off the document.
Her full legal name was printed beneath the company letterhead.
Her home address was correct.
Her date of birth was correct.
And the signature at the bottom looked exactly like hers.
But she had never signed it.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
Daniel Mercer calmly adjusted his cufflinks.
"Documents don't appear out of thin air, Danielle.""
Richard immediately stepped between them.
"Don't address my daughter as if she's on trial.""
Daniel raised both hands.
"I'm simply asking for an explanation.""
"No," Richard replied.
"You're presenting a document with my daughter's personal information and expecting her to defend herself. Explain how you obtained it.""
Daniel opened his briefcase again.
"The paperwork was submitted to one of the financial institutions handling the transactions.""
Angela examined the document.
"Which institution?""
"First National Commercial.""
"Who submitted it?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Whitmore Event Solutions.""
Angela looked at Richard.
"That means Vanessa's company.""
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
"I've never seen that document.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Vanessa, please.""
She stared at him.
"Don't you dare put this on me.""
Danielle looked between them.
"Can somebody explain why my name is on a company I've never heard of?""
Nobody answered.
Richard gently touched her shoulder.
"Baby, we're going to find out.""
Danielle shook her head.
"How did they get my hospital information?""
Richard looked at the paper again.
That question bothered him more than anything else.
The hospital paperwork contained personal information that had never been shared with his company.
Only Danielle, her doctors, and the hospital administration had access to it.
Then another possibility occurred to him.
"Angela, contact our legal department. Tell them we may have an identity theft case involving medical records.""
Angela nodded.
Daniel chuckled.
"Richard, you're making this unnecessarily dramatic.""
Richard turned slowly.
"Someone created a company using my daughter's identity.""
"Allegedly.""
"Someone forged her signature.""
"Allegedly.""
"And you brought the fraudulent paperwork into my building.""
Daniel sighed.
"You're allowing emotion to interfere with your judgment.""
Richard stepped closer.
"Do you remember when we started this company?""
Daniel looked surprised.
"Of course.""
"We had one office. Two desks. A leaking ceiling. I trusted you with everything because you told me money was only useful when it created something meaningful.""
Daniel's expression remained neutral.
Richard continued.
"Now you're standing in front of my daughter, holding a document that could ruin her life, and telling me not to be emotional.""
Daniel closed his briefcase.
"Perhaps we should involve attorneys.""
"We already are.""
Angela returned from the reception desk.
"Sir, our legal department is requesting that we preserve the original document. They also want confirmation of the hospital's records.""
Danielle suddenly spoke.
"Wait.""
Everyone turned.
She looked at the signature again.
Then she remembered something.
"That handwriting isn't mine.""
Daniel smiled.
"That's what everyone says when they're caught.""
Danielle ignored him.
"The signature has a small mark after my last name. I always make the letter B differently.""
She leaned closer.
"Look.""
Angela examined it.
Danielle continued.
"See that little line? Mine goes underneath. This one goes through the middle.""
Richard looked at the signature.
It was a tiny difference.
But it mattered.
Angela photographed the document.
"That's useful. We'll have a handwriting expert examine it.""
Daniel's expression tightened.
"You're going to spend thousands of dollars examining a signature?""
Richard answered immediately.
"If that's what it takes.""
A security officer approached Marcus and whispered something.
Marcus nodded before turning toward Richard.
"Sir, we've located the original entrance recording.""
Richard looked at Danielle.
"Do you want to see it?""
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
Marcus brought a tablet and opened the security footage.
The foyer appeared on screen.
There was Danielle, entering through the glass doors with Elijah in her arms.
Vanessa approached.
The audio was clear.
"You can't enter without an invitation.""
Danielle replied.
"My name is Danielle Brooks. My father is expecting me.""
Then came the slap.
The footage showed Danielle twisting her body to protect the baby.
It showed her falling.
It showed Vanessa standing over her.
And it showed several guests laughing.
Nobody spoke.
Danielle turned her face away.
She couldn't watch herself fall again.
Richard closed the video.
"That's enough.""
He looked at Marcus.
"Save three copies. One for the company, one for legal counsel, and one for the police.""
Vanessa's face tightened.
"The police?""
Richard looked at her.
"Yes.""
"This is a workplace dispute!""
"You struck a woman holding a newborn. That's not merely a workplace dispute.""
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
He didn't help her.
Instead, he was staring at the tablet.
Then he spoke.
"Richard, I think we're overlooking the most important issue.""
Richard turned.
"What?""
Daniel pointed toward Danielle.
"If she was listed as the beneficiary, she may have unknowingly received money from those transactions.""
Danielle shook her head.
"I haven't received anything.""
Daniel smiled.
"Then prove it.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"She doesn't need to prove anything to you.""
Daniel shrugged.
"Fine. But if the financial institution believes she's connected to the accounts, her personal assets could be frozen.""
Danielle looked frightened.
"My rent account?""
"Potentially.""
"My son's savings account?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Richard immediately turned toward Angela.
"Get our attorneys on the phone. I want written confirmation that Danielle has no connection to these accounts.""
Angela nodded.
Then her phone rang.
She answered.
"Angela Price speaking.""
She listened.
Her expression changed.
"Wait. What?""
Richard stepped closer.
"What happened?""
Angela ended the call.
"Mr. Brooks, the bank has just reported suspicious activity on one of the accounts connected to your daughter's identity.""
Danielle's heart began pounding.
"Which account?""
Angela looked at her tablet.
"An account opened under Danielle Brooks.""
Danielle shook her head.
"I don't have another account.""
Angela swallowed.
"The account received a transfer of $250,000 yesterday.""
Richard looked stunned.
"Yesterday?""
Angela nodded.
"And this morning, someone attempted to withdraw the entire balance.""
Danielle gripped the chair.
"Who?""
Angela looked at the screen.
"The withdrawal request was submitted by an authorized representative.""
Richard's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Who was it?""
Angela turned the tablet toward him.
The name appeared beneath the transaction.
*AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE: DANIELLE BROOKS.*
But the account photograph was not Danielle's.
It was a photograph of a woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a completely different face.
Victoria leaned closer.
"That's not Danielle.""
Richard looked at Daniel.
Daniel was no longer smiling.
James noticed.
"Daniel?""
The older man closed his briefcase.
"I think I've said enough.""
Richard moved toward the entrance.
"Nobody is leaving until the police arrive.""
Daniel laughed.
"You cannot hold me here.""
"Nobody is holding you. But I suggest you stay and answer some questions.""
Daniel picked up his briefcase.
Then he looked directly at Danielle.
"You should ask your father why he kept your adoption papers hidden.""
Danielle froze.
Richard turned sharply.
"What did you say?""
Daniel's eyes moved between them.
Then he smiled.
"Perhaps the two of you have more family secrets than either of you realizes.""
And before anyone could respond, Daniel's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
He answered quietly.
"Yes?""
A woman's voice came through.
It was loud enough for Richard to recognize one word.
"She's here.""
Daniel's face went pale.
He looked toward the entrance.
Then he whispered:
"Get rid of the original file. Immediately.""
Richard heard every word.
"Daniel!""
But Daniel had already ended the call.
And now Richard knew someone else was involved.
Someone who knew Danielle was at the wedding.
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Someone who had access to the original identity documents.
Someone who was apparently desperate to destroy the evidence.