Chapter 9 - Four People, One Lie
Tom arrived twenty minutes later.
He walked into my kitchen carrying a folder.
Rachel stood as if she might run to him.
He held up one hand.
“Don't.”
She stopped.
Michael said, “This is getting out of control.”
Tom looked at him.
“It got out of control when you started financing your side life with both families.”
He opened the folder.
Rachel had taken $45,000 from their home equity line.
Michael had taken $76,000 from our children's college fund.
The condo cost $318,000.
The math did not work.
“Where did the rest come from?” I asked.
Nobody answered.
Tom looked at Michael.
“I already know.”
Michael's face tightened.
Tom slid a document across the table.
A business loan.
$210,000.
Borrower: Andrews Design Group.
Personal guarantor: Sarah Andrews.
I stared at my signature.
Except it wasn't mine.
My hands started shaking.
“I never signed this.”
Tom nodded.
“I know.”
Michael stood abruptly.
“That's enough.”
I looked at him.
“You forged my name?”
“It was temporary financing.”
“You forged my name.”
“I was going to refinance everything once my promotion came through.”
Tom laughed.
“You didn't get the promotion.”
Michael stared at him.
Tom's expression sharpened.
“You didn't know?”
“What are you talking about?”
Tom pulled out his phone.
“I called your company this morning.”
“You what?”
“Vanessa Cole answered.”
Michael went pale.
Tom continued.
“She isn't just your coworker.”
I swallowed.
“What is she?”
Tom looked at me.
“She's the new vice president.”
May you like
Michael's face collapsed.
“And Sarah,” Tom added, “she says Michael was fired yesterday.”
