Chapter 6: The Secret Account
The silence in the conference room was so complete that I could hear the jazz band playing faintly through the walls.
I looked at Marcus.
“What something else?””
He glanced at Mom.
She shook her head once.
It was a small movement, but I saw it.
She was warning him not to speak.
I turned toward Claire.
“Tell me why you have my driver's license.””
Claire wiped her cheeks.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
I placed the document on the table.
“Your email address is on the billing change request. My license is attached. My signature is underneath.””
“Mom handled that.””
“Then why did you need it?””
Mom stood.
“This conversation is over.””
“No, it isn't.””
She reached for the paperwork.
I pulled it toward me.
“Patricia, can you make sure these documents are preserved?””
“Absolutely.””
Mom glared at her.
“This is a family matter.””
Patricia remained calm.
“Mrs. Carter, the restaurant has a responsibility to protect the account holder's payment information.””
I almost smiled.
For once, someone else was saying what I'd spent years trying to explain.
I looked at Claire again.
“Did you open an account using my information?””
Her mouth opened.
Then closed.
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“Nia, listen. It wasn't supposed to get this far.””
“What wasn't?””
“The account.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What account?””
Mom sat down slowly.
“Marcus, stop.””
He ignored her.
“Claire was trying to set up a separate account for the house expenses. She thought it would make things easier.””
“Using my identity?””
“She had your information already.””
I stared at my sister.
“Why?””
Claire finally looked up.
“Because Mom asked me to help.””
“Help with what?””
She swallowed.
“The payments.””
“What payments?””
Marcus answered for her.
“The deposits from the family.””
I looked between them.
“What family deposits?””
Mom pressed her lips together.
For the first time, she seemed uncertain.
I pulled out my phone and began recording the date and time in my notes.
“Start explaining.””
Claire shook her head.
“Can we not do this in front of the hotel staff?””
“Then you should have thought about that before using my information.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“The idea was that everyone would contribute toward the house. Mom would own it eventually, but you'd be the primary borrower. Claire was going to manage the money.””
“Everyone?””
“Some relatives.””
“How many?””
He hesitated.
“Maybe twenty.””
I stared at him.
“Twenty people were going to send money to an account under my name?””
“Not exactly.””
“Then explain exactly.””
Claire took a breath.
“We were going to collect contributions from family members for the down payment and expenses. Mom wanted to make the house happen before Christmas.””
I looked at the billing form.
“And the account was opened in my name?””
“Temporarily,” she whispered.
“Did you tell those relatives it was my account?””
She looked down.
I already knew the answer.
“Claire.””
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did you tell them I had agreed to buy the property?””
She nodded.
I felt suddenly cold.
“How much money have people sent?””
Nobody answered.
Mom finally spoke.
“It's not what you think.””
“Then tell me what it is.””
She took a deep breath.
“Your aunt Linda sent five thousand dollars. Your cousins sent smaller amounts. Some church friends wanted to contribute.””
I stared at her.
“You collected money from people?””
“For the family house.””
“Using my name?””
She raised her chin.
“People wanted to help.””
I looked at Claire.
“How much?””
She whispered, “Thirty-two thousand.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“Thirty-two thousand dollars?””
“It's not all spent,” she said quickly.
“Where is it?””
“Safe.””
“Where?””
Claire glanced at Marcus.
He looked away.
Mom finally answered.
“It's in an account Claire manages.””
I laughed once.
“You mean the account opened using my identity?””
Claire shook her head.
“No. It's a different account.””
I looked at her.
“Then whose name is on it?””
She hesitated.
“Mine.””
That was somehow worse.
I pulled out my phone and called Danielle.
She answered immediately.
“What's happening?””
“I've discovered another account connected to the house. My sister collected approximately thirty-two thousand dollars from relatives using my name as the supposed buyer.””
Danielle's voice became firm.
“Do not touch the account. Do not accept or move any money. Get copies of all the documents and identify who made the deposits.””
I glanced at Claire.
“Understood.””
Danielle continued.
“Has the mortgage company been notified about the additional activity?””
“Yes.””
“Good. I'll contact you shortly with next steps.””
I ended the call.
Mom was staring at me.
“You're really going to involve lawyers over a family gift?””
“Was the thirty-two thousand dollars a gift to me?””
She didn't answer.
“Did the relatives believe they were contributing to a house I would own?””
Silence.
I looked at Claire.
“Did you promise them that?””
Her eyes filled again.
“Mom said you would eventually agree.””
I slowly shook my head.
“So you collected money in my name before asking me.””
“We thought you'd be happy,” she whispered.
I leaned forward.
“Happy about what? Having a mortgage? Paying for Mom's house? Being responsible for money I never received?””
Claire covered her face.
Marcus suddenly stood.
“Enough. You're acting like we're criminals.””
I looked at him.
“Then why are you afraid of a paper trail?””
He slammed his palm against the table.
“Because you're destroying everything!””
Patricia stepped forward.
“Sir, please lower your voice.””
Marcus ignored her.
“Mom finally had a chance to get something nice. Claire worked hard organizing everything. And now you're turning it into some huge investigation because you can't stand seeing anyone else happy.””
I stared at him.
“You submitted my tax returns.””
He looked away.
“You used my information.””
Silence.
“You expected me to pay six hundred and forty thousand dollars.””
He said nothing.
“And now you're telling me I'm destroying the family?””
Mom stood and grabbed her purse.
“Let's go.””
Claire followed her.
Marcus remained behind for a moment.
He leaned toward me and lowered his voice.
“You don't know what you're getting into.””
I looked at him.
“Then tell me.””
He glanced toward the hallway.
“Mom didn't just promise the house to the family.””
“What do you mean?””
“She promised it to someone else.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
Marcus swallowed.
Then he said:
“Her new husband.””
I froze.
“Mom isn't married.””
“Not yet.””
He looked at the closed conference room door.
“She's been seeing someone for almost a year. His name is Richard. He needs somewhere to live, and Mom promised him the lake house would be theirs.””
I sat down slowly.
“Why would she need me to buy a house for a man I've never met?””
Marcus's expression changed.
“Because Richard has debts. His credit is terrible. And Mom told him you were wealthy enough to purchase the property without anyone noticing.””
I couldn't speak.
Marcus continued.
“There's something else. He was at the birthday dinner tonight.””
I looked toward the restaurant.
“Where?””
Marcus pointed toward the private dining room.
“He's the man sitting beside Mom's church friend. The one wearing the gray suit.””
I remembered seeing him earlier.
A tall man with silver hair, a dark gray suit, and an expensive watch.
He had smiled at me when I entered the room.
I'd assumed he was one of Mom's longtime friends.
“What's his full name?””
“Richard Hale.””
I searched the name on my phone.
Before the results finished loading, a message arrived from an unfamiliar number.
*UNKNOWN:* Nia, I think we should talk. Your mother has told me everything about the house. I was promised you'd be signing the final papers tonight.
A second message appeared.
*UNKNOWN:* There's something your mother hasn't told you about the property. You should check who currently owns it before you agree to anything.
I stared at the screen.
Then I opened the property listing.
The house wasn't owned by the seller listed online anymore.
The ownership record had changed three weeks earlier.
And the new owner was a company called Carter Family Holdings LLC.
I read the registered manager's name.
*Evelyn Carter.*
But beneath it was another name.
*Nia Carter.*
I had never heard of Carter Family Holdings.
May you like
I'd never registered a company with that name.
And somehow, my mother had already made me one of its owners.
