Chapter 4: The Name on the Hidden Agreement
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My name was on a financial agreement I had never seen, attached to an email I had never sent, connected to a business I had never owned.
And somehow, Victoria Hayes knew about it.
"Daniel," Mom said quietly, "tell me you didn't sign anything for your brother.""
"I didn't.""
"Did he ever ask you to help him with paperwork?""
I thought carefully.
"No. Not anything like this.""
Dad closed the laptop.
"Nobody touches another document until we know exactly what's happening.""
My phone buzzed.
It was an incoming call from an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
"Daniel Carter?""
"Who is this?""
"Victoria Hayes. I believe you've seen my email.""
I looked at Dad.
"Yes. What do you want?""
"I want my money back.""
"Then why are you contacting me?""
"Because your brother has been using your family's names to convince people he's financially stable. And apparently, he used yours to make himself look more legitimate.""
I stepped away from the kitchen island.
"What exactly did he do?""
Victoria sighed.
"Your brother told me he had a reliable business partner. Someone with a stable job and a family that could support the company if necessary.""
"Who?""
"You.""
I almost laughed.
"That's ridiculous. I'm not involved in his business.""
"I know that now.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I called the number listed on the agreement, and your father answered.""
Dad reached for the phone.
"Victoria, this is James Carter. I need you to explain exactly what agreement you're talking about.""
Her tone changed.
"Mr. Carter, I invested $28,000 in Marcus's event business. He promised to register the company, secure clients, and begin operating within three months.""
Dad's eyebrows rose.
"Twenty-eight thousand?""
"Yes.""
"Where did that money go?""
"Some of it went toward equipment. Some went toward the apartment. Some went toward expenses he described as business-related.""
Mom stepped closer.
"What apartment?""
"The one Marcus shared with me.""
Mom looked at Dad.
Victoria continued.
"I believed we were building a company together. Then Marcus started disappearing. He told me he was dealing with family problems. Later, he said he was getting married and needed a little more time.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Why did you put my name on the agreement?""
"I didn't.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Marcus submitted your details. He said you were joining the company as a financial partner.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"Did you verify that?""
"Yes. I emailed the address listed on the document. Someone replied confirming that Daniel would be involved.""
My stomach tightened.
"What email address?""
She read it aloud.
It was almost identical to mine.
One letter was different.
Someone had created an account that looked like my personal email address.
I immediately opened my phone and compared them.
Victoria was right.
The address was a carefully disguised imitation.
"Do you still have the original messages?"" I asked.
"Every single one.""
"Can you send them to me?""
"Yes. But I need something from you first.""
"What?""
"I need you to understand that I'm not trying to destroy your family. I'm trying to recover money I worked hard for.""
Her voice cracked slightly.
"I sold my car to invest in that company. I trusted Marcus.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Dad said, "We'll review everything. But you need to understand that we did not authorize our names to be used.""
"I understand, Mr. Carter.""
The call ended.
Dad immediately asked me to save the documents.
Mom sat down.
"Twenty-eight thousand dollars," she whispered.
Dad nodded.
"And another fifteen thousand from me.""
I looked at him.
"That's forty-three thousand.""
"Not including the wedding expenses.""
Mom shook her head.
"I don't understand how he could do this.""
I did.
At least, I understood part of it.
Marcus had spent years believing that every problem had a solution involving someone else's money.
If he couldn't afford something, Dad paid.
If he made a mistake, Mom fixed it.
If he promised something he couldn't deliver, he simply waited until somebody rescued him.
But this time, the people he had involved weren't going to disappear quietly.
An hour later, Victoria sent the documents.
Dad opened them on his laptop.
The first file was a business proposal.
The second was an investment agreement.
The third was a series of emails between Victoria and Marcus.
I scrolled through the messages.
Marcus had repeatedly referred to me as his business partner.
He claimed I would manage the company's accounts.
He even included a short biography describing my education and professional experience.
It was all fabricated.
Then I found something worse.
A scanned copy of my driver's license.
I stared at it.
"Where did he get this?""
Mom looked over my shoulder.
"Marcus had access to the family document folder when he was living here.""
I remembered leaving important paperwork in the upstairs study.
He had occasionally used the printer.
I had never thought twice about it.
Dad leaned forward.
"Keep going.""
The next page showed an electronic authorization.
My name appeared at the bottom.
But the signature looked nothing like mine.
It was a crude imitation.
I felt sick.
"He's forged my signature.""
Dad immediately closed the document.
"Don't alter anything. We're preserving all of it.""
Mom reached for my hand.
"Daniel, I'm sorry.""
I looked at her.
"Why are you apologizing?""
"Because we should have noticed something was wrong earlier.""
I shook my head.
"Marcus did this. Not you.""
Before Dad could respond, the doorbell rang.
We all looked toward the hallway.
Dad checked the security camera.
His face tightened.
It was Marcus.
He stood outside with his gold chain visible above his burgundy shirt. His braids were slightly disheveled, and he was holding a plastic folder.
Jasmine wasn't with him.
Dad opened the door but didn't step aside.
"What do you want?""
Marcus looked past him.
"I need to talk to everybody.""
"About what?""
"Victoria.""
Dad folded his arms.
"Then talk.""
Marcus glanced at the camera.
"Can I come inside?""
"No.""
His expression changed.
"Seriously?""
"You're welcome to speak from there.""
Marcus took a breath.
"Look, I know things got out of hand. But Victoria is making everything worse.""
Mom appeared behind Dad.
"Did you forge your brother's signature?""
Marcus's eyes moved toward me.
"What?""
I held up the document.
"Did you use my identity to get Victoria's money?""
He looked at the paper.
Then he looked away.
"Daniel, it's not what you think.""
"Then explain it.""
"I needed someone to vouch for me.""
"You used my driver's license.""
"I had access to it.""
"That doesn't mean you had permission.""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"I was going to tell you.""
Dad stepped forward.
"That's the same excuse you used when we discovered the wedding contract.""
Marcus raised his voice.
"Because nobody listens to me unless something goes wrong!""
Mom stared at him.
"People listened to you for years. You simply didn't like hearing the word no.""
He opened the plastic folder.
"I brought something.""
Dad didn't take it.
"What is it?""
"Documents for the business. If we can get everybody together, we can fix this.""
I laughed.
"You want us to fix the business you built using stolen information?""
Marcus glared at me.
"Don't start acting like you're better than me.""
"I'm not. I'm just not pretending I signed something I never saw.""
Marcus lowered the folder.
Then he looked at Dad.
"I need thirty thousand dollars.""
Mom actually stepped backward.
Dad didn't blink.
"For what?""
"To settle Victoria's investment and cover the remaining venue expenses.""
"You want more money?""
"I can pay it back.""
Dad shook his head.
"No.""
Marcus's face reddened.
"You're seriously going to let your own son lose everything?""
Dad's voice remained calm.
"Son, you already lost control of this situation. More money won't fix dishonesty.""
Marcus looked toward Mom.
"Please.""
She swallowed.
"I love you, Marcus. But I'm not signing another check.""
He stared at her.
Then he turned toward me.
"Daniel, you can help me.""
I shook my head.
"Not like this.""
For a moment, he looked genuinely stunned.
He had expected someone to rescue him.
He had always expected someone to rescue him.
Finally, he stepped backward.
"Fine.""
He pointed at the papers in my hand.
"But don't act like Victoria is innocent. You don't know what she's capable of.""
Dad closed the door.
We watched him walk down the driveway.
A minute later, Mom's phone rang.
It was Jasmine.
"Mrs. Carter, I need help.""
Mom answered immediately.
"What's wrong?""
"I'm at the motel. Marcus came back, and he says I owe him money.""
Mom stood up.
"What money?""
"He says I signed something for the apartment.""
Dad looked at me.
Mom's voice became firm.
"Jasmine, don't sign anything else. Don't give him money. We're coming to get you.""
Then Jasmine whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"There's another name on the apartment lease.""
"Whose?""
She paused.
May you like
Then she answered.
"Mine.""
