Chapter 8: The House of Cards
By eight the next morning, Camille was sitting in a conference room at her attorney's office, surrounded by printed bank statements and corporate records.
Attorney Evelyn Brooks, a composed woman in her early fifties, reviewed the documents without interrupting.
When she reached the transfer to PW Family Holdings LLC, she placed the page beside the signed loan agreement.
“Did your husband disclose this transfer to you when he requested the loan?””
“No.””
“Did you authorize any portion of the loan to be transferred to his mother?””
“No.””
“Have you received any repayments?””
“Some scheduled payments were made by the company. The latest one failed.””
Evelyn made a note.
“Then our immediate concern is documenting the transactions and determining whether the funds were used consistently with the agreement. We shouldn't assume what happened before we obtain the complete records.””
Camille nodded.
“I'm not trying to punish him. I need to know where my money went.””
“That's reasonable. We can request a complete accounting under the agreement and preserve your rights while the records are reviewed.””
Evelyn turned to another page.
“This company your mother-in-law controls—do you know whether your husband has an ownership interest?””
“Not that I'm aware of.””
“Then we need to establish that, too.””
Camille looked down at the corporate registration.
For years, she had regarded Patricia's financial opinions as meddling. She had never imagined that the woman criticizing her spending might have been receiving money connected to the very business Camille had helped sustain.
Her phone vibrated.
Derrick had sent a message.
*DERRICK: Mom says you've contacted a lawyer. Please don't turn this into something ugly.*
Camille typed a reply.
*CAMILLE: I'm requesting records for a loan I made. That's all.*
He responded almost immediately.
*DERRICK: She says the $42,000 was an investment in a family property.*
Camille showed Evelyn the message.
“An investment?”” Evelyn asked.
“That's the first I've heard of it.””
“Do you have a copy of any investment agreement?””
“No.””
Evelyn nodded.
“Then let's request that as well.””
An hour later, Marcus called.
“Camille, I'm at the property.””
“Why?””
“Because I wanted to see what Aunt Patricia actually bought.””
Camille sat straighter.
“And?””
“It's a commercial building with a few office suites. There's a sign outside saying the property is under renovation. I asked one of the contractors whether the work had been paid for.””
“What did he say?””
“He said payments had been delayed. Apparently, the company that was supposed to handle part of the renovation stopped responding.””
Camille closed her eyes.
“Marcus, don't accuse anyone of anything. Just tell me what you know.””
“I'm not accusing anybody. I'm telling you what I saw. And there's another problem.””
“What?””
“The property records show a mortgage. Aunt Patricia told everybody she bought the building outright.””
Camille looked at Evelyn, who immediately began typing notes.
“Can you send me the public records?”” Camille asked.
“Already doing it.””
A moment later, the documents appeared on her phone.
The registered owner was PW Family Holdings LLC. A lender held a mortgage against the property.
Camille studied the dates.
The company had acquired the building shortly after the $42,000 transfer from Derrick's business account.
That timing raised questions, but it didn't establish where all the money had gone or whether the transfer had been used toward the purchase.
Evelyn reviewed the records when Camille forwarded them.
“We need the loan documents and transaction records before drawing conclusions,” she said.
“But the connection is important enough to investigate.””
Camille nodded.
She wanted answers, not assumptions.
Across town, Patricia was holding a family meeting in her living room.
Derrick sat on the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees. Marcus stood near the fireplace, while Denise remained beside the doorway with her handbag still over her shoulder.
Patricia paced in front of them.
“I will not have my family dragged into court because Camille has decided she wants to control everybody.””
Marcus folded his arms.
“Then show us the records.””
Patricia stopped.
“Excuse me?””
“The business account. The property. The transfers. If everything is legitimate, show us the documents.””
“This is a private financial matter.””
“You made it a family matter when you told everybody Camille was living off Derrick.””
Patricia's face reddened.
“I was trying to protect my son.””
Derrick looked up.
“Mom, did you use the money from my business account to buy the building?””
Patricia stared at him.
“I invested it.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because you were struggling, and I found an opportunity that could help all of us.””
“Did you get my approval?””
“I am your mother!””
“That isn't an answer.””
Patricia's eyes filled with angry tears.
“After everything I've sacrificed for you, you're questioning me because of that woman?””
Derrick stood.
“Stop calling her that.””
The room went silent.
Patricia stared at him as if he had slapped her.
“What did you say?””
“I said stop calling Camille that woman. She's my wife.””
“Then act like a husband and protect your family!””
Derrick shook his head.
“Camille is my family.””
For a moment, Patricia seemed unable to speak.
Then she picked up a decorative cushion and threw it onto the sofa.
“Fine! Go running back to her. See if she cares about you when your business collapses.””
Derrick's face changed.
“Is that what you think is going to happen?””
Patricia looked away.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Tell him the truth, Aunt Patricia.””
“There is nothing else to tell.””
“Then why did you tell me last month that the building was fully paid for?””
Patricia pressed her lips together.
Denise slowly approached the coffee table.
“Patricia, if you used money that wasn't yours to invest, you need to explain it.””
“I didn't steal anything!””
Nobody had used that word.
The room fell silent.
Patricia realized what she'd said and immediately began speaking faster.
“It was a temporary arrangement. Derrick was supposed to receive a return on the investment. I was going to put everything back once the property started generating income.””
Derrick stared at her.
“How much did you take?””
Patricia looked at the floor.
“I don't remember the exact amount.””
“Was it $42,000?””
Her head snapped up.
“Where did you get that figure?””
Derrick stepped backward.
“Mom.””
She grabbed his wrist.
“Listen to me. The building is worth far more than that. Once the renovations are complete, we'll make everything right.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Her voice dropped.
“I did what I thought was best for this family.””
Derrick pulled his hand away.
“You used my business account without explaining what the money was for. You let me tell Camille the business was struggling while you were buying property.””
“I was trying to create something for your future!””
“And now what?””
Patricia's eyes darted toward the window.
“Now we need time.””
Marcus looked at her carefully.
“Time for what?””
Before she could answer, Derrick's phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
He answered cautiously.
“Hello?””
A man's voice identified himself as a representative of the company that had financed the building's renovation.
“We're trying to reach Ms. Patricia Williams regarding the outstanding balance on the property improvement agreement.””
Derrick glanced toward his mother.
“What outstanding balance?””
The caller continued.
“Several scheduled payments remain overdue. We were told your company might be handling the account.””
Derrick's expression went blank.
“My company?””
“Yes, sir. Our file lists your business as a financial contact.””
He gripped the phone.
“I never agreed to guarantee a property renovation.””
There was a pause on the other end.
“Sir, I can send you a copy of the documents we have on file.””
Derrick ended the call and turned toward Patricia.
“What did you sign?””
She backed away.
“Derrick, don't jump to conclusions.””
“Did you put my business down as a financial contact?””
“I was trying to help.””
“Did you use my name?””
Patricia said nothing.
Derrick stared at her, breathing hard.
Then his phone chimed with an incoming email from the representative.
He opened the attachment.
The first page contained his company's name, its business address, and a signature block.
At the bottom was a signature that looked remarkably like his.
Derrick's face went pale.
“I never signed this.””
Patricia reached for the phone.
“Let me explain.””
He stepped away.
“Did you sign my name?””
“I can fix this!””
Marcus immediately took out his own phone.
“Don't touch anything. We need copies of every document.””
Patricia looked from one face to another.
May you like
For the first time, she was no longer the loudest person in the room.
And Derrick was beginning to understand that the financial secret his mother had kept might have placed his entire business at risk.
