The Company I Built

PART 2 — THE SIGNATURE HE STOLE

“Dad, what paperwork?”

My father took a shaky breath.

“Nolan submitted a personal guarantee to Dunham Development. He used your name as the former operations director and listed you as a financial guarantor.”

I stared at the phone.

“He what?”

“He said you had agreed to support the project. There are documents with your signature.”

I slowly stood from my chair.

“I haven’t signed anything for Frank’s Plumbing since I left.”

“I know, sweetheart. But Lyle says the documents are legally binding.”

“Then they’re forged.”

My father went silent.

I grabbed my coat.

“Send me copies of everything. Don’t let Nolan touch another document.”

Twenty minutes later, Lyle called.

“Raina, I’m glad you’re looking into this. But there’s something you need to understand.”

“What is it?”

“Nolan didn’t just put your name on a guarantee. He submitted financial statements showing Mercer Mechanical Services as a supporting subcontractor.”

My stomach tightened.

“He has no authority to use my company.”

“I know. That’s why I stopped the payment authorization.”

I closed my eyes.

Nolan had used my professional reputation, my name, and my new company to make his disastrous bid look financially secure.

If I hadn’t left Frank’s Plumbing, I might have been dragged into the entire mess.

“Lyle, I want every document he submitted.”

“You’ll have them by noon.”

That afternoon, I arrived at Frank’s Plumbing with my attorney, Rebecca Collins.

Nolan was standing behind Dad’s desk, wearing the same expensive watch he’d shown off at Sunday dinner.

When he saw me, his smile disappeared.

“Well, look who decided to come back.”

I placed a folder on the desk.

“Explain why my signature is on a financial guarantee.”

He glanced at the document.

“It’s standard business paperwork.”

“Did I sign it?”

“You were involved with the company for years. Your name was already on several accounts.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

He leaned back.

“Look, Raina. We were trying to save the contract. You should be grateful we’re giving you an opportunity to help.”

My attorney opened her briefcase.

“Mr. Voss, using another person’s signature without authorization may constitute forgery and fraud. We’d recommend you stop making statements until you’ve reviewed the evidence.”

Nolan’s face turned red.

Dad rubbed his forehead.

“Can we please handle this as a family?”

I looked at him.

“Family doesn’t forge signatures.”

Taryn suddenly appeared in the doorway.

“Why are you attacking my husband?”

I turned toward her.

“Because he used my identity.”

“He was trying to protect Dad’s business!”

“Then he should have used his own name.”

For the first time, Taryn had nothing to say.

My attorney requested the original documents, electronic submission records, and company authorization files.

Nolan refused.

But he made another mistake.

He looked at me and said, “You think you’re so smart because you built a little plumbing shop. Without Dad, you’d still be driving around fixing toilets.”

I smiled faintly.

“Maybe. But at least I know how to read a contract.”

I walked out without another word.

The next morning, my attorney contacted the bank and Dunham Development. We formally disputed the guarantee and requested an investigation into the forged signature.

Then Lyle called again.

“Raina, there’s something else. Nolan has been telling suppliers that Mercer Mechanical is financially connected to Frank’s Plumbing. Several invoices have already been sent to your office.”

I stared at the stack of paperwork on my desk.

This was no longer a family disagreement.

It was an attempt to make my company responsible for someone else’s mistakes.

And I wasn’t going to let that happen.