Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Chapter 410 The Signature Is a Fake!

Samantha frowned slightly but did not immediately agree.

Upon seeing that, Randall was even more certain that the power of attorney in Samantha’s hands was a fake. It seemed that Harmony’s statement about Timothy protecting her always seemed to be true!

From the looks of it, he was even more certain of his decision to keep Harmony safe. Once she was finally released and took charge of the Barker Foundation again, he would be the one who has done the most outstanding service!

Randall goaded even more. “Mrs. Barker, you insist that Mr. Barker authorized you to handle Ms. Johnson’s affairs, but why is it that you’re afraid when I asked to verify the authenticity of his signature? Could you have forged a fake power of attorney to fool everyone just because you want to seek personal vengeance?”

All of a sudden, everyone looked suspiciously at Samantha.

The other board members from Harmony’s faction began to mock her, “Mrs. Barker, this is a business world, not a battlefield for jealous women. It’s a little humiliating for you to do this.”

“That’s right, this is why women should stay home to look after their husbands and teach their children. A narrow-minded person like you shouldn’t come out and cause trouble.”

“You’re too narrow-minded, Mrs. Barker!”

Rochelle’s eyes became cold and she was already gearing up to rip those brainless board members apart. Samantha shook her head slightly and signaled for her to calm down.

Rochelle could only hold herself back. After all, Samantha was running the show and Rochelle was not going to usurp that. Nevertheless, she kept score of those sarcastic words.

Once the meeting was over, she would tell Blockhead to tie those people up in a gunny sack and give them a severe beating!

Samantha looked up and glanced at Randall’s smug face. She smiled indifferently and said, “If that’s what you want, then by all means go ahead with a handwriting identification.”

Randall could not help his surprise when she said that.

He initially thought that she would not dare to let the signature come under the scrutiny of a handwriting identification expert because her lie would then be exposed!

It was therefore quite a surprise that she agreed.

Was she that confident in her forgery or was she still bluffing?

Since she was willing to put her reputation at stake, he would be very happy to oblige!

Randall said, “I have already invited Mr. David Whitehall, a well-known handwriting identification expert, to the company. I’ll let him in now.”

The door of the conference room opened soon after and David Whitehall walked in.

He appeared to be in his 40s and had a straight posture. His expression was haughty and he carried an air of arrogance as well. He had risen to fame in recent years as a relatively popular handwriting identification expert, and the turning point that propelled him to fame was his claim that he used to be a student of Hugh Engelhard, a well-known scholar specializing in the national culture. David later appeared in various variety shows and became well-known to everyone.

His presence set everyone’s heart at ease.

The results of David’s identification would be very conclusive and the signature’s authenticity would soon be known.

Randall was itching to see Samantha make a fool of herself and delved straight to the subject. “Mr. Whitehall, there are now two signatures before you. One of them is Mr. Barker’s signature. The other, the one on the power of attorney, is the one which requires your confirmation on whether it is Mr. Barker’s signature!”

David nodded gently and took out a special tool to begin analyzing the two signatures.

After about ten minutes, David put down his tools and raised his head to look at everyone.

Randall asked nervously, “Yes, Mr. Whitehall?”

David replied, “After careful observation, these two signatures don’t match. The one on the power of attorney is a forgery!”

The crowd was in an uproar! It was simply shameful to think that Samantha had stooped to such a level!

The signature was a fake indeed!

Randall looked eagerly at Samantha at once. “Mrs. Barker, don’t you think you should give everyone an explanation?”

Samantha grinned and ignored Randall. She turned to David and asked, “Mr. Whitehall, are you sure that the signature on the power of attorney is a fake? Do you need more time to examine them?”

David’s expression became ugly as soon as he heard that. “Are you questioning my ability, Mrs. Barker? Everyone knows my skills, and if I said the signature on the power of attorney is fake, then there’s no need to examine it

again!”

Randall echoed and questioned, “The facts are in front of you, Mrs. Barker. Are you still going to argue about it?” Samantha smiled. “Whether or not it’s a fact remains to be seen!”

“You’ve invited Mr. Whitehall as your expert, but is the signature fake just because he says so? I can question it too, can’t I?”

“You…” Although Randall could not accept that, he could not refute her either.

He took a deep breath and asked, “What else do you want?”

“That’s easy.” Samantha shrugged, “My request to invite another identification expert, someone who is deservedly recognized by everyone, to do another examination and provide his opinion.”

“If that expert says it’s fake, then there’s nothing I can say anymore.”

Randall sneered. “Mr. Whitehall is already the most well-known expert in the industry. Who are you planning to invite? If it’s a newcomer or some unknown guy, I’d advise against it unless you want to embarrass yourself even more.’

Samantha did not seem to hear his ridicule and merely said, “If no one else has any opinions, I’ll invite my expert then.”

The other board members had no objection because Samantha’s request was reasonable. Listening to only one person’s opinions was unadvisable too.

Randall did not object to it either. Whoever it was that Samantha invited, he did not take them seriously at all and figured that the words of a small fry would go unheeded.

She could invite whoever she wanted for all he cared.

“Go ahead then, Mrs. Barker!”

He wanted to prove her wrong and do so seriously!

Samantha got up, walked to the door of the conference room, opened it, and left.

Everyone could not help but discuss among themselves. Who did she invite? Why did she have to go out and welcome that person? Was she simply trying to bluff?

About a minute later, Samantha walked in slowly and helped a white-haired old man in.

Randall could not hold back any longer and burst out laughing.

What a joke of a person!

He thought it would be a new young talent at least, but it turned out to be an old man with half a foot in the grave.

The man’s eyesight was probably failing and yet she wanted him to examine handwriting!

However, the initially arrogant David immediately turned pale when he saw the old man. His legs even turned limp as he unconsciously called out, “M-m-master…”

That voice startled everyone.

David’s master Hugh Engelhard was the great scholar of national culture, right?

He retired early to enjoy his later years, which was why no one recognized him when he first showed up.

Samantha had invited Hugh to do the identification…

Randall’s smile froze and his eyes widened.

He had underestimated Samantha and did not expect her to play that card!

Even if the legendary Hugh Engelhard was there, he was not going to let Samantha succeed easily. He looked at Hugh and said, “I believe you’re a man of high integrity, Mr. Engelhard, and forgery must be something that repulses you. I hope you’ll be able to provide a fair judgment. It’d be such a shame if your legacy is tarnished!”

The more highly-skilled a person was, the more they paid attention to their reputation. If Hugh so much as dared to help Samantha, Randall would tell the world of his fraud!

Hugh might be an old man, but his eyes were still as sharp as ever. He squinted at Randall and said, “I never tell lies. I speak the truth. Anything fake will never be true!”

Randall then feigned courtesy and urged him on, “Please go ahead and examine the handwriting, Mr. Engelhard!”

Hugh snorted coldly and walked to the table. He picked up the two documents and started comparing them.

Ten minutes later, Hugh placed the file down and raised his head.