Chapter 8 - Chloe’s Design Studio
Miller Studio LLC had been legally dormant but not dissolved.
That saved it.
Chloe still owned one hundred percent.
Its assets were modest.
Brand portfolio.
Computer equipment.
Receivables.
A library of design templates and client contracts.
Estimated business value at peak:
Around $240,000.
Current:
Much less.
The restaurant refinancing package stated Miller Studio had guaranteed Damian’s $480,000 facility.
The signature on guarantee was disputed.
A forensic document examiner later concluded:
Some strokes were consistent with Chloe’s genuine signature.
Other characteristics suggested traced or digitally assembled copy.
Not enough to declare by eye.
Metadata helped.
The PDF had been created on Damian’s office computer.
Signature image inserted from a scanned wedding-related document.
That became strong evidence of forgery.
Damian claimed:
“Chloe told me to handle it.”
No written authorization.
No witness.
No company resolution.
Miller Studio had no board besides Chloe.
The lender, Crescent Capital Finance, suspended enforcement against Chloe once fraud evidence emerged.
It pursued Prescott Hospitality and Damian’s personal guarantee instead.
No one seized Chloe’s old studio.
May you like
Not everything was undone immediately.
But the worst debt never landed.
