Chapter 10 - The Signature.
Emily stared at the signature until the letters stopped looking like her name.
The shape of the E was right.
The long curve in Carter was right.
Even the slight upward angle resembled the way she signed official forms.
But she knew she had never seen the document.
"Where did this come from?"
The Calder attorney answered.
"It was submitted through an outside shareholder representative on Thursday."
"The day before the wedding."
"Yes."
"Who submitted it?"
"Carter Strategic Holdings."
Emily closed her eyes.
She wanted the answer to be complicated.
She wanted an assistant, a clerical error, an old form, anything that would make the situation less personal.
"Is my father listed as the contact?"
"His office is."
Lena sat across from her.
"Emily, do not assume more than the document proves."
"It proves somebody used my name."
"Yes."
"And sent it from his company."
"Yes."
Emily opened her eyes.
"That's enough for this morning."
The attorney told her Calder would preserve the submission records and cooperate with the trustee.
He also told her not to investigate the matter through company systems.
"You are an employee here now," he said.
"We need a clean line between your work and your shareholder dispute."
Emily nodded.
It was the first boundary in days that felt reasonable.
Orientation began at nine.
For three hours Emily sat with twelve other new hires learning building access, data security, project structure, and ethics requirements.
Nobody mentioned Gregory.
Nobody mentioned the wedding.
Nobody stared at her as though she were a scandal.
By lunch, she almost felt normal.
Then her phone lit up with Natalie's name.
Emily stepped into a quiet corridor and answered.
"I opened the drive," Natalie said.
Emily stopped walking.
"Thomas told us not to."
"Rachel reviewed it with me."
"Your cousin?"
"Yes."
"What was on it?"
Natalie took a breath.
"A post-marriage agreement."
Emily frowned.
"You signed a prenup already."
"This is different."
Natalie's voice shook.
"It transfers any interest I might receive through Gregory's estate into Carter Strategic Holdings if the marriage ends within five years."
"Did you sign it?"
"No."
"Then why does it matter?"
"Because there is a signature on the copy."
Emily leaned against the wall.
"Yours?"
"It looks like mine."
The corridor seemed to tilt.
"Natalie."
"I never signed it."
Emily closed her eyes.
Two documents.
Two signatures.
Two women tied to Gregory's finances.
"Have you called Thomas?"
"Rachel did."
"What did he say?"
"He said the document wasn't prepared by his office."
Emily heard footsteps behind her and moved farther into the empty corridor.
"Where did it come from?"
"The file metadata lists a consulting firm called Northgate Advisory."
Emily recognized the name.
She had seen it somewhere in the trust paperwork.
"Wait."
She opened the photographs on her phone.
One page from the trust folder listed vendors paid administrative fees.
Northgate Advisory appeared twice.
"They're connected to the trust," Emily said.
Natalie went silent.
"How?"
"They billed the trustee for restructuring consultation."
"So the same firm worked on your trust and this fake agreement?"
"It looks that way."
Emily's pulse quickened.
"Send everything to Thomas and your lawyer."
"Already did."
"Good."
Natalie's voice softened.
"How was your first morning?"
The question was so normal that Emily almost laughed.
"I still have a job."
"Good."
"Malcolm's under review."
"Even better."
Emily hesitated.
"There is a proxy authorization with my signature on it."
Natalie stopped breathing for a second.
"You signed it?"
"No."
"Emily, that's the same thing."
"I know."
They sat in silence through the phone.
Then Natalie said something that made Emily stand straighter.
"Gregory called me this morning."
"What did he say?"
"He said you were going to accuse him of things you didn't understand."
"Did he mention the documents?"
"No."
"What did you tell him?"
"That I wasn't coming home until I understood what I signed and what I didn't."
Emily looked through the glass wall at the Calder offices beyond the corridor.
People were working at desks, discussing projects, carrying coffee, living ordinary Monday lives.
She wanted that ordinary life more than ever.
"He'll try to make us doubt ourselves," Emily said.
Natalie answered quietly.
"Then we keep the paperwork."
Emily returned to orientation.
At three fifteen, Dr. Park asked her to step outside.
"Your father is downstairs," Lena said.
Emily's stomach dropped.
"Security won't let him up."
"Good."
"He says he has information that could affect your employment."
Emily looked toward the elevator.
"What information?"
Lena's expression was unreadable.
"He brought a copy of your academic disciplinary record."
Emily stared at her.
"I don't have an academic disciplinary record."
May you like
Lena nodded slowly.
"That's what I thought you would say."
