Chapter 7 - THE FORGERY|
The next morning, Camille entered the Harrow Coast headquarters with Everett's legal team beside her.
The building had once been a symbol of everything her family had achieved. Its lobby featured photographs of the first Harrow hotel, a modest seaside inn her grandmother had opened with borrowed money and stubborn determination.
Now the marble floors seemed colder.
Employees looked up as Camille passed.
Some offered sympathetic smiles. Others looked away.
She wondered how many already knew about the rumors.
At the executive floor, Nathan was waiting outside the boardroom.
"You shouldn't have brought him," he said.
Everett's presence did not change Camille's answer.
"I brought my attorney and a forensic accountant. They are here to review the filings."
"You're making this unnecessarily hostile."
"You filed a document with my name on it."
Nathan lowered his voice.
"It was a draft."
"It says I authorized the transfer."
"An administrative error."
"Then correct it."
He glanced toward the boardroom.
"Not here."
"Why not?"
"Because people are listening."
Camille looked around.
"Good. Maybe they should."
The board members were already seated. Russell Briarwood sat at the head of the table, with Oliver beside him. Sloane was also there, wearing a cream suit and looking distinctly uncomfortable.
Camille took her seat.
Her attorney, Lydia Shaw, placed the disputed authorization on the table.
"This document contains Ms. Harrow's electronic signature," Lydia said. "She denies authorizing it. We are requesting the original submission records and the identity of the person who uploaded it."
Russell leaned back.
"That is an internal administrative matter."
"Forgery is not an internal administrative matter," Lydia replied.
Nathan slammed his hand on the table.
"Nobody forged anything."
Camille looked at him.
"Then show us the authorization log."
The room fell silent.
Everett's forensic accountant connected a laptop to the display.
"According to the filing records, the document was uploaded from a device assigned to the chief financial officer's office at 9:42 p.m. on Tuesday."
Nathan looked toward the empty chair at the far end of the table.
"Where is Daniel?"
No one answered.
A board member checked his phone.
"He hasn't come in."
"Call him," Nathan ordered.
The call went straight to voicemail.
Everett's accountant displayed another record.
"The electronic signature was created using a saved image file. It was not entered through Ms. Harrow's verified account."
Camille felt a strange mixture of relief and dread.
She had been telling the truth.
But the person responsible was still missing.
Russell stood.
"This meeting is adjourned."
Lydia remained seated.
"Not until the records are preserved."
Oliver finally spoke.
"Father, let them finish."
Russell turned on him.
"Do not interfere."
For the first time, Oliver didn't look away.
Camille's phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
Stop asking about the signature. Daniel didn't create it. Your grandmother's housekeeper did.
Camille stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
And she has already left town.
