Chapter 4 - NICHOLAS'S SIGNATURE
Nicholas did not deny signing anything.
He denied that it mattered.
“We have filmed this family for years.”
Joshua stood in his parents’ living room holding the Sunridge packet.
“That isn’t the question.”
Nicholas crossed his arms.
“You want me to say I lied?”
“I want you to tell me what you believed you were signing.”
“A family representation.”
“Meaning?”
“That Caleb had the releases.”
“Did you check?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he runs the company.”
Joshua stared.
“You represented something as true because Caleb told you it was true.”
Nicholas bristled.
“You make it sound criminal.”
“I didn’t say criminal.”
That distinction mattered.
Joshua was trying not to turn anger into conclusions.
Victoria entered from the hallway.
“This has gone far enough.”
Joshua turned.
“Did you know Lily did not want prank videos?”
Victoria’s face tightened.
“She doesn’t like being embarrassed.”
“She told you?”
“She’s ten. Ten-year-olds don’t like anything adults choose for them.”
Joshua felt his jaw lock.
“How many times did she tell you?”
Victoria did not answer.
Nicholas stepped between them.
“You are not going to interrogate your mother.”
Joshua laughed once.
“Yesterday you threw eggs at my daughter.”
Nicholas looked ashamed for half a second.
Then defensive again.
“It was stupid.”
“Stupid?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you do it?”
Nicholas stared toward the window.
“Because Caleb said the campaign mattered.”
There it was.
Not family tradition.
Not spontaneous joking.
The campaign.
Joshua looked at both parents.
“How much money do you have in Rivas Rewind?”
Nicholas turned sharply.
“That’s none of your business.”
Joshua knew immediately the answer was:
enough to matter.
He went home and searched state business records.
Rivas Rewind Media LLC.
Caleb: managing member.
Nicholas: member.
Victoria: member.
Joshua was not an owner.
He had never wanted to be.
That night Caleb sent him a message.
PLEASE DON’T CONTACT SUNRIDGE YET. GIVE ME 48 HOURS.
Joshua ignored it.
Then another message arrived from an unknown number.
Mr. Rivas, this is Dana Mercer from Sunridge brand compliance. We were informed there may be a consent discrepancy involving a minor participant. I would like to speak with you directly.
Joshua stared.
Someone had already contacted the sponsor.
He assumed it was Caleb trying to get ahead of him.
Then Dana sent one more line.
For clarity, the concern did not come from Caleb.
It came from Lily.
Joshua read the sentence three times.
May you like
His daughter had contacted a national sponsor herself.
How?
