Chapter 9 - Antoine's Signature
Antoine did not deny the signatures.
That made it worse.
"I signed transfer batches," he said. "Hundreds of them."
Amina stared at him. "Without reading?"
"Finance prepared the packets. My father approved them. I signed as group president."
"Convenient."
"Stupid," Antoine corrected. "Not convenient."
Charlotte laughed sharply. "Now you want to pretend you were innocent?"
He turned on her.
"Did you know?"
"About what?"
"Saint-Laurent receiving company money."
She said nothing.
Antoine's face changed.
"Charlotte."
"My father said it was temporary."
"Your father?"
She realized her mistake too late.
Amina stepped closer. "Bernard isn't your father."
Charlotte closed her eyes.
"I meant Antoine's father."
"No, you didn't."
Nobody moved.
Antoine looked at his wife.
"Who were you talking about?"
Charlotte's silence became an answer.
Amina opened the corporate registry search.
Saint-Laurent Heritage had been incorporated through nominee directors.
But one historic filing included a beneficial-owner declaration that had later been replaced.
Amina opened the scan.
The name was not Bernard Beaumont.
It was CHARLES DELACROIX.
Charlotte's maiden name was Delacroix.
Her father, Étienne Delacroix, was supposed to have died fourteen years earlier.
Antoine stared at her.
"Your father is dead."
Charlotte's lips parted.
"That's what everyone was told."
Amina felt the entire case shift.
The shells.
The midnight inventory.
The forged Diallo release.
The private holding company.
None of it was only a Beaumont problem.
"Where is Étienne?" Amina asked.
Charlotte looked at the locked boutique doors.
May you like
Then back at Antoine.
"If I tell you," she whispered, "my father will know before we get there.
