Chapter 3: My Signature
“You weren't supposed to see those yet.””
The words hung in the hotel suite.
Vanessa slowly lowered herself onto the edge of a chair.
I remained standing because I wasn't sure my legs would work if I sat down.
Daniel reached for the papers.
I pulled them away.
“Don't.””
“Sarah, listen to me.””
“You forged my signature.””
“It isn't that simple.””
I stared at him.
“Tell me the complicated version of forging my name.””
Daniel looked toward the open door.
“Close that.””
“No.””
“People can hear.””
“Good.””
He walked toward it.
I raised my phone.
“I’m recording.””
Daniel stopped.
His eyes dropped to the screen.
“You wouldn't.””
I pressed record.
“I already am.””
His expression changed instantly.
“Sarah, turn that off.””
“No.””
“Turn it off.””
“Why? Afraid you'll embarrass yourself in front of your entire company again?””
His jaw clenched.
Vanessa gave a short, humorless laugh.
Daniel spun toward her.
“You think this is funny?””
“No,” she said.
“I think it's incredible.””
“What?””
“You told me Sarah was taking half your company.””
Daniel went still.
Vanessa continued.
“You said she was using the divorce to destroy you. You said these papers protected what you built.””
I looked at her.
“He told you I was divorcing him?””
“He told me you demanded eight million dollars.””
I almost couldn't process it.
“I didn't even know the company was worth eighteen.””
Vanessa stared at Daniel.
“So what was the plan?””
“Enough.””
“No,” she snapped.
“What was the plan, Daniel?””
He paced toward the window.
Chicago glittered eighteen floors below us.
For years, I had watched him pace like that whenever he faced a difficult business decision.
I used to admire it.
I thought it meant he was thinking.
Now I realized it meant he was calculating.
He turned around.
“The company is entering an acquisition.””
My breath caught.
“What acquisition?””
“I couldn't tell you.””
“You could tell your secretary?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Apparently not all of it.””
Daniel exhaled.
“An investment group has been negotiating to buy a controlling stake. If the deal closes, my shares become extremely valuable.””
“How valuable?””
He didn't answer.
“Daniel.””
“Potentially thirty million.””
I stared at him.
Thirty million dollars.
Six months earlier, when I wanted to replace my ten-year-old car, Daniel told me we needed to be careful because the company was struggling.
When my mother needed help replacing her furnace, he complained about the $4,000 I sent her.
When I suggested we finally take the anniversary trip we'd postponed for years, he said every dollar had to remain liquid.
Meanwhile, he was preparing to become worth thirty million dollars.
And forging documents to keep me away from it.
Vanessa stood.
“You told me the acquisition was worth twelve.””
Daniel shot her a look.
“That's irrelevant.””
“To whom?””
I looked down at the documents again.
One page referenced a trust.
Another referenced life insurance.
I stopped.
“Life insurance?””
Daniel moved toward me.
“That's standard estate planning.””
“Why is Vanessa listed?””
Silence.
Vanessa blinked.
“What?””
I looked again.
The beneficiary wasn't simply Vanessa Reed.
It was *V.R. Consulting LLC*.
“Is that you?””
Vanessa came beside me.
“I own V.R. Consulting.””
Daniel swore quietly.
Her face tightened.
“Why is my company listed on your wife's life insurance?””
“It isn't.””
I held up the page.
“It is.””
“It's a draft.””
“A draft with my forged signature.””
Vanessa took the document.
The color disappeared from her face.
“Two million dollars?””
My stomach turned.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Stop making this sound sinister.””
I looked at him.
“Then make it sound normal.””
He couldn't.
My phone buzzed.
A text from my sister, Emily.
*Sarah, people are posting videos from the ballroom. Are you okay?*
I typed quickly.
*Call me in ten minutes. If I don't answer, call the police and come to the Ashford. Room 1816.*
Daniel saw me typing.
“Who are you texting?””
“My sister.””
“Why?””
“Because I no longer trust you.””
His face hardened.
“You're being dramatic.””
“You slapped me, stole from my safe, cheated on me, forged my signature, hid an eight-figure acquisition, and apparently drafted paperwork involving my life insurance.””
I lifted my phone.
“Which part am I exaggerating?””
Vanessa suddenly walked toward her suitcase.
Daniel frowned.
“What are you doing?””
“Leaving.””
“No.””
She stopped.
“No?””
“We need to figure this out.””
“There is no 'we.''”
“Vanessa.””
“You lied to me.””
“You slept with my husband,” I said quietly.
She looked at me.
“I know.””
There was no excuse in her voice.
No apology either.
Just shame.
“I did something terrible,” she said.
“But I thought I understood what I was doing.””
“You understood enough.””
“Yes.””
She accepted that.
Then she looked at Daniel.
“But I didn't agree to fraud.””
Daniel laughed.
“You're suddenly developing morals?””
Vanessa zipped her suitcase.
“No. I'm developing a lawyer.””
That finally rattled him.
He crossed the room quickly.
“You signed an NDA.””
Vanessa froze.
Daniel smiled.
It was the first smile I'd seen from him since entering the suite.
“There it is,” he said.
“So let's all stop pretending anyone here has leverage.””
Vanessa's fingers tightened around the suitcase handle.
“What NDA?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Nothing that concerns you.””
I almost laughed.
“Everything concerns me now.””
I started photographing every document.
Page after page.
Daniel lunged.
I moved away.
“Stop taking pictures.””
“No.””
“Sarah!””
He grabbed for my phone.
Vanessa shoved the table between us.
“Back off.””
Daniel stared at her.
“You are making a very expensive mistake.””
She stared back.
“So are you.””
My phone buzzed again.
Not Emily.
An unknown Chicago number.
A text.
**Mrs. Carter, my name is Michael Grant. I'm an attorney.
Do not sign anything your husband gives you. I believe Daniel Carter has forged your signature on multiple financial documents.**
I felt the room tilt.
Another message arrived.
*I have been trying to reach you for three weeks. Daniel's office kept intercepting my calls.*
I looked at Vanessa.
Then Daniel.
His face had gone white.
He had seen the name on my screen.
“Who is Michael Grant?”” I asked.
Daniel said nothing.
“Daniel?””
Vanessa slowly turned toward him.
“You know him.””
Daniel walked toward me.
“Give me the phone.””
I backed away.
“Who is he?””
“Sarah, give it to me.””
Another message appeared.
This one contained a photograph.
A scanned document.
At the top were the words:
*LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF SARAH ELIZABETH CARTER*
My entire body went cold.
I had never written a will.
At the bottom was my signature.
Forged again.
But underneath it was something that frightened me even more.
The date.
The document had supposedly been signed yesterday.
I raised my eyes to Daniel.
He wasn't looking angry anymore.
He looked terrified.
May you like
Then Michael Grant sent one final message.
*Mrs. Carter, if you're with your husband right now, do not tell him where you are going. There is something else you need to know about that will.*
