Chapter 3 - The Signature Claire Never Gave
Derek owned forty percent of a commercial renovation company called Halston BuildWorks.
Claire had helped him start it nine years earlier.
Not by running the business.
By guaranteeing its first equipment loan when Derek’s credit was weak.
The company eventually grew.
Claire returned to her own career in medical-device sales and stopped paying attention to the daily finances.
That had been her mistake.
Her name remained on several older corporate banking documents.
Derek always said changing them was unnecessary paperwork.
Now Claire understood why he preferred them untouched.
She called Maya Feldman, the company’s longtime outside accountant.
“Maya, do I still have authority on any company accounts?”
A pause.
“You should probably ask Derek.”
“I’m asking you.”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Two operating accounts and the revolving credit facility.”
Claire stood at Sophie’s bedroom window.
“Has anyone used my authorization recently?”
“I can’t discuss transactions without confirming—”
“Maya.”
Something in Claire’s voice stopped her.
“I haven’t signed anything for Halston in almost three years.”
Maya became quiet.
Then she said, “There was a borrowing amendment submitted Monday.”
Claire’s stomach dropped.
“In my name?”
“Yes.”
“For how much?”
“Eight hundred thousand.”
Claire closed her eyes.
The company was not merely struggling.
Derek had attempted to borrow nearly a million dollars using authority Claire had never given him.
Maya sounded shaken.
“Claire, the signature looked like yours.”
Claire glanced toward Sophie’s phone.
Now Derek’s fear downstairs made sense.
May you like
The accidental video did not simply reveal a failing company.
It suggested fraud.
