Chapter 3 - THE CONTRACT NOBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO READ
Three days later, Claire discovered that the unpaid invoice was only the beginning.
Hannah entered her office carrying a laptop.
“You need to see this.”
Claire looked up.
“What?”
“The revised vendor authorization.”
Claire frowned.
“We didn't revise anything.”
“Exactly.”
Hannah placed the laptop on the desk.
The document displayed C.W. Atelier's logo.
Claire's digital signature.
And an amendment authorizing the transfer of certain event-management assets to Crowe Hospitality.
Claire stared.
“What is this?”
Hannah swallowed.
“According to Crowe's legal department, you signed it six weeks ago.”
Claire's blood turned cold.
Six weeks.
The same week Ethan ended their engagement.
She leaned closer.
The signature looked authentic.
But the document number was wrong.
Claire knew every major contract her company had executed.
This one didn't exist.
“Print it.”
Hannah nodded.
Claire called Lauren.
Within an hour, they were examining the document together.
Lauren's expression darkened.
“This is serious.”
Claire stared at the screen.
“They forged my signature.”
“Possibly. We need a forensic review.”
Claire looked at Hannah.
“Who had access to our contract files?”
Hannah hesitated.
“Senior management. Legal. Finance.”
“And Ethan?”
Silence.
Claire closed her eyes.
Of course.
For years, Ethan had used her home office.
Borrowed her laptop.
Asked for passwords.
She'd trusted him.
Because she loved him.
Lauren looked at her.
“Claire.”
She opened her eyes.
“Yes?”
“If this document was forged, the unpaid invoice may be part of a larger attempt to seize control of your company.”
Claire stared.
For four years, Ethan had told her C.W. Atelier was a cute little business.
Something to keep her occupied.
Something she could abandon when they married.
May you like
Now she wondered whether he'd ever believed that.
Or whether he'd simply been waiting for the right moment to take it.
