“It is a clerical error,” Gloria insisted, though her eyes darted nervously around the room. “Or a harassment tactic. I tried calling their office, but I was directed to a legal representative who refused to give me any information.”

“And why have you brought this to me?” I asked.

Gloria let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

“Because your husband is currently tied up in meetings trying to secure a major corporate merger,” she said. “He doesn’t have time for this nonsense today. You, however, work in administrative services.”

She pointed a finger at me.

“I want you to use your little office database, or whatever it is you do here, to look up this Oakwood Asset Management. Find out who runs it. Find out who we need to pay off or threaten to make this go away.”

I looked down at the paper on my desk.

The signature at the bottom of the default notice was Sterling’s, acting as the authorized trustee.

“I don’t need to look them up, Gloria,” I said softly.