I turned the screen toward him.
His smile vanished.
It displayed a financial report on Mitchell Industrial Supply, the struggling company he’d owned for twenty years.
Three months earlier, his business had approached mine about a major equipment contract.
Our compliance department had reviewed its financial condition.
The findings were troubling.
Unpaid suppliers.
Overdue business loans.
Repeatedly exaggerated revenue forecasts.
And unauthorized use of my name as a supposed company adviser.
“Why is my name in your financing documents?” I asked.
Dad turned pale.
“It was just paperwork.”
“Paperwork submitted to a lender?”
Tyler stopped smiling.
Mom whispered, “Richard…”
I continued.
“You represented that I was involved in your company and would support its expansion.”
Dad leaned closer.
“We assumed you’d help if we needed you.”
“You hadn’t spoken to me in nine years.”
Nobody responded.
My lawyer had already informed the lender that I’d never authorized those claims.
