Emily Was Seconds Away From Saying “I Do” — Then a Woman Put an Official Document in Her Hands
Chapter 5 — Natalie’s Recording
Nora removed a small flash drive from the folder.
“Natalie gave me this.”
Ryan looked toward it.
“What’s on there?”
“You tell me.”
Nora connected it to a laptop.
A voice recording began.
Natalie’s voice was quiet.
Then Ryan’s.
The recording was dated almost five years earlier.
Natalie said:
“Why is my name on these companies?”
Ryan answered:
“They’re temporary.”
“You used my information.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“You opened accounts without telling me.”
Then Ryan said something Emily would remember forever.
“They’re easier to move if they’re under a spouse.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
Emily stared at him.
“That’s your voice.”
“Yes.”
“What were you moving?”
Ryan shook his head.
“It wasn’t stolen money.”
“Then what?”
Ryan finally explained.
Before meeting Emily, he owned a small property investment company.
Several projects were failing.
He moved assets between related companies to keep lenders from freezing accounts.
Natalie discovered her name had been used as an officer on two entities.
“Without permission?” Emily asked.
Ryan looked down.
“I had forms with her signature.”
Nora immediately asked:
“Did she sign them?”
Ryan stayed silent.
Emily knew the answer.
“Oh my God.”
Ryan stepped toward her.
“Emily, that was years ago.”
She moved away.
“You forged your wife’s signature?”
Ryan whispered:
“Graham handled the paperwork.”
Nora’s eyes narrowed.
Again.
Graham Pike.
