Chapter 9 - THE MONEY TRAIL
Where did the $75,000 option payment go?
Curtis’s bank.
Then:
$20,000 remained.
$15,000 paid medical bills.
$10,000 paid overdue property taxes.
$30,000 transferred to Nathan.
Nathan said:
“Commission advance.”
Was he entitled?
The land agreement included broker compensation:
3% of sale price if closed.
Not option payment.
No clause for $30,000 upfront.
Nathan produced an invoice:
consulting and transaction preparation.
Curtis signed approval.
Signature dated two days after the option.
Did Curtis remember?
“No.”
Nathan said:
“He asked me to take it.”
Could be true.
Then Rachel found a text from Nathan to his wife:
Dad finally signed. If this closes, we’re out of the hole.
What hole?
Nathan’s brokerage business had:
tax debt,
office lease arrears,
credit-card balances.
Total:
approximately $240,000.
Not catastrophic.
Enough to create pressure.
The land deal could generate:
commission,
consulting fees,
May you like
future listing rights.
Nathan had a financial motive to keep Curtis signing.
