Chapter 5: The Apartment I Never Knew About
I stared at Robert.
"Marcus has another apartment?""
Nobody answered.
I slowly turned toward my husband.
"How long?""
Marcus looked down at the floor.
"Vanessa, it's not what you think.""
I almost laughed.
That sentence had become the soundtrack of my marriage.
Every time something suspicious appeared, he said the same thing.
It wasn't what I thought.
The secret apartment wasn't what I thought.
The forged authorization wasn't what I thought.
The $350,000 loan wasn't what I thought.
"How long have you been paying for it?"" I asked.
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"About eight months.""
Eight months.
For eight months, he'd been living with me in the house I'd purchased while secretly maintaining another apartment.
"Why?""
"I needed somewhere to work.""
"You have an office in this house.""
"It's different.""
"Different how?""
He didn't answer.
Robert quietly took notes.
Brianna stepped between us.
"Can we stop interrogating Dad? He's under enough pressure.""
I looked at her.
"Your father has apparently been hiding an apartment, trying to borrow against my house, and using documents with my signature. What part of that should I ignore?""
She crossed her arms.
"You always make everything sound worse than it is.""
I pointed toward the laptop.
"Then explain why the bank tried to redirect my property statements.""
Brianna looked away.
Tyler suddenly spoke.
"The apartment was supposed to be temporary.""
I turned toward him.
"Why do you know about it?""
He hesitated.
Then he pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Because Brianna and I stayed there.""
Marcus's head snapped toward him.
"Tyler, don't.""
But Tyler had already unlocked his phone.
He opened a photograph and placed it on the dining table.
It showed Brianna sitting on a white leather sofa in a beautifully furnished apartment.
Behind her was a large television, expensive artwork, and a view of downtown Atlanta.
I recognized the apartment building.
I'd driven past it dozens of times.
"That's where you've been staying?"" I asked.
Brianna snatched the phone.
"Give me that!""
Tyler pulled it away.
"Why? You're not protecting anybody anymore.""
He opened another photograph.
This one showed several cardboard boxes stacked beside the apartment's front door.
My stomach tightened.
One box had a shipping label with my name.
Vanessa Williams.
I stared at it.
"What is that?""
Tyler swallowed.
"Your things.""
"My things?""
"Some of your documents. A few personal items. Brianna said they were going to move them before the bank finalized everything.""
The room went silent.
I looked at Marcus.
"Move my belongings where?""
He finally raised his eyes.
"I wasn't planning to throw you out.""
"Then why were my belongings packed?""
He had no answer.
Brianna suddenly began shouting.
"Because Dad said you were going to leave anyway!""
I felt something inside me go very still.
"Who told you I was leaving?""
She looked toward her father.
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Brianna, stop.""
But she continued.
"He said you were unhappy. He said you wanted to sell the house and move somewhere smaller.""
I stared at him.
"Did I ever tell you that?""
"No.""
"Did I ever tell Brianna that?""
He shook his head.
"Then why would she believe it?""
Marcus finally spoke.
"Because I needed her to cooperate.""
The words hung in the air.
Brianna turned toward him.
"Dad?""
He looked exhausted.
"I told you we had to get the paperwork done before Vanessa changed her mind.""
My mouth went dry.
"So you lied to your daughter, too?""
He rubbed his face.
"I was trying to keep everyone happy.""
Robert closed his notebook.
"Mr. Williams, I strongly recommend you stop discussing this matter without legal representation.""
Marcus ignored him.
"Vanessa, please. Just listen to me.""
I stood.
"I'm listening.""
He stepped closer.
"The investment was real. We found a commercial building, and the owner wanted a quick closing. I didn't have enough money available. I thought using the house temporarily would solve everything.""
"Why didn't you ask me?""
"Because you'd say no.""
The honesty of that answer hurt more than the lie.
I stared at him.
"So you decided my answer didn't matter.""
He looked down.
Brianna started crying again.
"I didn't know it would go this far.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew enough to take my identification.""
She covered her mouth.
Tyler looked at me.
"There's something else you should know.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Don't.""
Tyler ignored him.
"The apartment isn't just an office. There's a safe inside.""
"What does that have to do with me?""
Tyler swallowed.
"Brianna told me your original property documents were inside it.""
I felt a chill run down my spine.
"Original documents?""
He nodded.
"She said her father had taken them from your study.""
I looked at Marcus.
He didn't deny it.
Robert immediately stood.
"Vanessa, did you give Marcus permission to remove your original deed?""
"No.""
"Did you know he had access to your personal financial records?""
"No.""
Robert slowly closed his briefcase.
"We need to secure the remaining records and contact the bank's fraud department first thing tomorrow.""
Marcus suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Vanessa, don't destroy our marriage over this.""
I pulled away.
"You destroyed it when you decided my home was something you could gamble with.""
He looked at me with desperation.
Then his phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
I caught the name before he turned it over.
*Daniel Carter.*
Marcus immediately silenced the call.
Robert noticed.
"Who is Daniel Carter?""
Marcus slipped his phone into his pocket.
"Nobody.""
Tyler laughed bitterly.
"He's the man who was supposed to buy the house.""
I froze.
"Buy my house?""
May you like
Tyler nodded.
"And the deal was supposed to close next week.""
