Chapter 3
I stared at the document until the words blurred.
The heading read:
OPTION TO PURCHASE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
Beneath it was the address of Bennett's Reserve.
The document claimed that my company had agreed to give Williams Development Corporation an exclusive option to purchase the building.
The purchase price was listed as twelve million dollars.
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the figure was absurd.
The building alone had recently been valued at more than twenty million.
And the restaurant operating inside it generated millions in annual revenue.
I looked at Claire.
“Where did this come from?”
She swallowed.
“A courier delivered it to our administrative office this afternoon.”
“Why wasn't I told?”
“The assistant manager thought it was routine legal correspondence.”
I looked at the signature again.
Marcus Bennett.
It resembled mine.
But the final letter was wrong.
I always finished my surname with a sharp upward stroke.
This signature ended in a flat line.
“I didn't sign this.”
Daniel leaned across the table.
“May I see it?”
I turned the screen toward him.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
I studied him.
“You've seen it before.”
He hesitated.
“I've seen a related draft.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Daniel looked toward Benjamin.
The attorney remained silent.
I leaned forward.
“Did Sterling Capital know about this?”
Daniel exhaled.
“Marcus, let's not jump to conclusions.”
I felt anger rising.
“Someone forged my name on a document that could affect ownership of my building.”
He opened his mouth.
I raised my hand.
“Don't tell me to calm down.”
Olivia looked down at her notes.
Benjamin finally spoke.
“We should suspend the meeting until independent counsel reviews the document.”
I nodded.
“For once, we agree.”
I stood.
“Gentlemen, Olivia, this meeting is over.”
Daniel looked alarmed.
“Marcus, we've spent months negotiating this partnership.”
“And apparently someone has spent those months negotiating over property I never agreed to sell.”
He rose.
“I assure you Sterling has not authorized fraud.”
“Then you'll have no problem cooperating with an investigation.”
I collected my papers.
“Claire, please escort our guests to the lobby.”
She nodded.
Daniel looked as though he wanted to argue.
Then he thought better of it.
As the executives left, I remained alone in my office.
For several seconds, I simply stared through the glass wall.
I had built Bennett's Reserve with almost everything I owned.
My first restaurant had failed.
My second nearly bankrupted me.
I had slept in my car during the early months because I couldn't afford rent and payroll at the same time.
Now someone was trying to take the most important property my company owned.
My phone rang.
Rachel Morgan.
She was my business attorney and one of the few people I trusted completely.
“Marcus, where did you get that document?”
I explained.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she said, “Do not sign anything.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
“And don't confront Richard Williams.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I want to verify several things first.”
“What things?”
She hesitated.
“Two weeks ago, someone contacted the county recorder's office claiming to represent Bennett Hospitality.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“They submitted preliminary paperwork related to a property transfer.”
I gripped the edge of my desk.
“Why wasn't I notified?”
“The filing was incomplete and hadn't been accepted as a transfer. I only learned about it today.”
“Can you stop it?”
“Yes. We're filing an objection and preserving the evidence.”
I closed my eyes.
“Thank you.”
“Marcus, one more thing.”
“What?”
“The document references an authorization signed by your former business partner.”
I froze.
“Former partner?”
“Yes.”
I knew exactly who she meant.
Anthony Price.
Anthony and I opened our first successful restaurant together nine years earlier.
We were friends from culinary school.
We shared long nights, empty bank accounts, and dreams nobody else believed in.
But our partnership ended three years ago.
Anthony wanted faster expansion.
He believed we should borrow heavily and open as many locations as possible.
I disagreed.
Our argument became bitter.
Eventually, I bought out his ownership interest.
The settlement was expensive.
But the business survived.
I hadn't spoken to Anthony since.
“Anthony doesn't have authority over my company anymore.”
“I know.”
“Then why is his name on the document?”
“That's what concerns me.”
I sat down.
Rachel continued.
“I'll review the original buyout agreement tonight.”
When the call ended, I felt an unfamiliar heaviness.
I could handle Vanessa's insults.
I could handle difficult investors.
But the possibility that someone I once considered a brother was helping others steal from me hurt differently.
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.”
Claire entered.
“Mr. Bennett, Vanessa is still waiting.”
I sighed.
“Send her in.”
A moment later, Vanessa appeared in my doorway.
Her earlier confidence was gone.
She held her handbag with both hands.
“Marcus?”
I remained seated.
“What can I do for you?”
She took a breath.
“I wanted to apologize.”
I looked at her.
“For what?”
Her face reddened.
“For what I said earlier.”
“Which part?”
She looked uncomfortable.
“All of it.”
I nodded.
“Okay.”
She waited.
I said nothing.
Finally, she stepped closer.
“Look, I was surprised to see you. I didn't know you owned the restaurant.”
I studied her.
“Would you have treated me differently if I actually were a waiter?”
Her mouth opened.
Then closed.
I continued.
“That's the problem, Vanessa.”
She looked down.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She began twisting the strap of her handbag.
“I'm sorry.”
I believed she regretted what happened.
But I wasn't sure she regretted the behavior itself.
There was a difference.
“Apology accepted,” I said.
Relief crossed her face.
Then she smiled nervously.
“That's good. Because I was hoping we could discuss something.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“The investment deal.”
I leaned back.
“There it is.”
She frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“You came here because of the deal.”
She looked offended.
“That's not fair.”
“Vanessa, you laughed at me until you discovered I owned the restaurant. Now you're apologizing and asking about a business transaction.”
She lowered her eyes.
I continued.
“Do you understand how that looks?”
She whispered, “Yes.”
I stood.
“I have nothing else to discuss tonight.”
She looked frightened.
“Marcus, please. My father is depending on this deal.”
I paused.
“Why?”
She hesitated.
“What do you mean?”
“Why is your father so desperate to purchase my building?”
Her expression changed.
“He isn't desperate.”
“Then why does he have a document containing a signature I never gave?”
Her eyes widened.
“What document?”
I watched her carefully.
For the first time, I couldn't tell whether she was lying or genuinely surprised.
I turned my tablet toward her.
She read the first page.
Then the second.
Her hands began shaking.
“Where did you get this?”
“Does it look familiar?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Vanessa.”
“I swear I've never seen this.”
I studied her.
She looked terrified.
Not embarrassed.
Terrified.
Then she whispered something unexpected.
“My father told me you already agreed to sell.”
I stared at her.
“When?”
“Last week.”
My blood ran cold.
She looked at the signature again.
Then she reached for her phone.
“I need to call him.”
I shook my head.
“Not from my office.”
She looked at me helplessly.
“Marcus, you don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“My father told me that if this deal doesn't close, our company could collapse.”
I remained silent.
She took a shaky breath.
“And he said Anthony Price was the person who guaranteed you'd cooperate.”
I felt something break inside my chest.
Anthony.
My former friend.
The man who knew every weakness in my early business agreements.
I looked toward the document.
Then toward Vanessa.
“What exactly did your father promise Anthony?”
She hesitated.
Then whispered, “Five million dollars.”
I stared at her.
“For what?”
May you like
Vanessa looked down.
“For helping him get your restaurant.”
