Chapter 5: The Man Who Wanted My Company
Patricia asked Maya to describe everything she remembered about Daniel's visit.
We spent nearly forty minutes going through the details.
The date.
The time.
Where everyone had been sitting.
What had been said.
Maya remembered more than I expected.
"He had a leather folder," she explained.
"Denise put it on the dining table. They were looking at papers.""
"Was Gregory there?""
"No. Just Daniel.""
"Did you speak to him?""
"He asked me how school was going.""
"What did you say?""
"Fine.""
Maya looked down.
"Then he asked whether I was excited about moving.""
I leaned forward.
"Moving where?""
"He said Denise had told him I might be going away to school.""
Patricia wrote something down.
"Did you ask why?""
Maya nodded.
"He said it would be better for everyone if the house became a place where people could start fresh.""
I stared at her.
"And what did Denise say?""
"She told him I was being nosy and sent me upstairs.""
Patricia stopped writing.
"Did you see the folder again?""
Maya nodded.
"It was still on the table when I went downstairs to get water.""
"Did you look inside?""
"A little.""
"What did you see?""
"Your name, Dad. And the company logo.""
I felt a cold pressure behind my ribs.
Patricia closed her notebook.
"Marcus, I think we need to investigate Daniel's involvement separately from Denise's actions.""
"I agree.""
"Have you had any contact with him recently?""
"No.""
"Any unresolved business matters?""
I almost smiled.
"Four years ago, Daniel wanted me to approve a contract that would have given him control over a development project. I refused because the financial projections didn't make sense.""
"What happened?""
"He accused me of undermining him. Eventually, he left the company.""
"Did he retain any access to your records?""
"Not legally. But he knew our accounting systems, our vendors, and the structure of several business agreements.""
Patricia looked at me.
"Then we need to determine whether he had access to information that could have helped someone imitate your authorization.""
I nodded.
She turned to Maya.
"Would you be comfortable if we arranged for you to speak with someone who specializes in documenting witness accounts?""
Maya looked at me.
I nodded.
"Only if you want to.""
"Okay.""
Patricia smiled gently.
"Good. And you won't have to do this alone.""
After the meeting, Patricia advised us to return home only if we felt safe doing so. She also recommended that we keep the recording, photographs, and notebook secure and avoid discussing the investigation with Denise.
I called Angela.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus? What's happening?""
"I need you to do me a favor.""
"Anything.""
"Can Maya stay with you tonight?""
There was no hesitation.
"Of course. What's wrong?""
"I'll explain when I get there.""
Angela lived about twenty minutes from us.
She had a guest bedroom and had always been close to Maya.
When we arrived, she opened the door before I could knock.
"Come here, baby.""
Maya hugged her.
Angela looked at me over my daughter's shoulder.
Her eyes were questioning.
I waited until Maya went upstairs before telling her everything.
The loan.
The property transfer.
The recording.
Daniel.
And the attempt to involve Alicia's house.
Angela listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she sat down.
"Marcus, I told you something was wrong.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't you listen?""
I looked at the floor.
"I thought I was keeping the peace.""
Angela shook her head.
"You weren't keeping the peace. You were asking Maya to live with the consequences.""
I didn't argue.
Because she was right.
Later that afternoon, I drove back to my house alone.
I wanted to collect some clothes and secure a few documents before Denise returned from wherever she'd gone with the boys.
I found her in the kitchen.
She was chopping vegetables.
"Where's Maya?""
"With Angela.""
Denise stopped cutting.
"Why?""
"She wanted to spend the night.""
Denise gave a short laugh.
"Of course she did. She always runs to your sister whenever something doesn't go her way.""
I put my keys on the counter.
"She's staying there for now.""
Denise looked at me.
"What?""
"She needs some space.""
"From what?""
I stared at her.
"From you.""
Her knife stopped moving.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she placed the knife on the cutting board.
"You're really doing this?""
"Doing what?""
"Choosing your daughter over your wife.""
I looked at her.
"That isn't a choice.""
"That's exactly what it is.""
"No. It's a responsibility.""
She laughed bitterly.
"Three years, Marcus. Three years I've tried to make this marriage work.""
I almost asked whether she remembered the recording.
Instead, I said, "Then why did you try to send my daughter away?""
Denise's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
"What are you talking about?""
"The boarding school application.""
She crossed her arms.
"I was trying to find an opportunity for her.""
"Without asking me?""
"You're impossible.""
"Did you tell Maya I was going to agree?""
"I was discussing possibilities.""
"Did you tell her she'd be better off somewhere else?""
Denise looked away.
"She needs structure.""
"She needs a home.""
"She has a home!""
"Then why are you trying to remove her from it?""
Denise slammed her palm against the counter.
"Because I can't live like this anymore!""
I remained still.
"Like what?""
"Like everything revolves around a dead woman and her daughter!""
The words hung between us.
I felt something inside me go completely quiet.
Denise seemed to realize she'd said too much.
She lowered her voice.
"Marcus, that's not what I meant.""
I looked at her.
"No. I think that's exactly what you meant.""
She walked toward me.
"Listen. We can fix this. I know I made mistakes at the party.""
"That wasn't a mistake.""
"Fine. I handled it badly.""
"You dragged a fifteen-year-old girl away from her father.""
"She's not my daughter!""
"And that's the problem.""
Denise's eyes narrowed.
"You're going to destroy this marriage over her.""
I stared at her.
"No. You destroyed it when you decided she didn't deserve a place in it.""
She folded her arms.
Then she said quietly:
"Be careful what you do next.""
I turned toward the stairs.
"Why? What happens next?""
She didn't answer.
I went upstairs and collected a suitcase.
When I returned, Denise was standing near the living room doorway.
"Where are you going?""
"To Angela's.""
"For how long?""
"Until Patricia advises me otherwise.""
Her face hardened.
"Patricia?""
I stopped.
"Yes.""
"You're involving lawyers now?""
"Financial documents involving my property are already involved.""
Denise stared at me.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
I saw the name.
*Gregory.*
She quickly silenced it.
I pretended not to notice.
"Have a good evening, Denise.""
I left.
But before I reached the car, I heard her call after me.
"Marcus!""
I turned.
She was standing on the porch.
"Don't make me tell people what really happened with Alicia's house.""
My entire body stiffened.
"What did you just say?""
Denise's face had changed.
She realized she'd exposed something she hadn't intended to reveal.
Then she smiled.
It wasn't her usual smile.
It was colder.
"You heard me.""
I walked back toward the porch.
"What do you know about Alicia's house?""
She folded her arms.
"More than you think.""
"Tell me.""
"Not here.""
"Then where?""
She looked toward the driveway.
"Come back tomorrow. We need to talk like adults.""
I stared at her.
For three years, Denise had barely mentioned Alicia.
She had always avoided conversations about her, claiming she didn't want to reopen old wounds.
Now she was threatening to reveal something about the woman who had died seven years earlier.
I returned to my car.
My phone rang before I could start the engine.
Patricia.
"Marcus, I need you to listen carefully.""
"What happened?""
"I just received information from the county clerk's office.""
"About the property?""
"Yes. There's an older document connected to Alicia's estate.""
I closed my eyes.
"What kind of document?""
"A deed-related filing that appears to have been submitted shortly after her death.""
My grip tightened around the steering wheel.
"Who submitted it?""
"That's the problem. The filing contains an authorization that may not have been properly witnessed.""
I stared at the house.
"Was Denise involved?""
Patricia hesitated.
"Her name appears in the supporting paperwork.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"How?""
"She was listed as the person who delivered the documents.""
I remembered Alicia's funeral.
I remembered Denise hadn't even known me then.
We hadn't met until almost two years later.
"That makes no sense.""
"I know. Which is why I'm asking you to come in tomorrow morning.""
"What's the document about?""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"It concerns the legal ownership of the house Alicia left for Maya.""
I looked toward the upstairs window.
The house was empty.
But suddenly it felt like every room contained something I hadn't known about.
"Patricia, is Maya's inheritance safe?""
"I can't confirm that yet.""
I closed my eyes.
"Find out.""
"I will.""
After ending the call, I sat in the driveway for several minutes.
Then another call came through.
This time, it was Angela.
"Marcus, you need to come back.""
"What's wrong?""
"It's Maya.""
My heart jumped.
"Is she okay?""
"She's physically fine. But she found something.""
"What?""
Angela paused.
"She was looking through an old box of Alicia's things. There's an envelope with her mother's handwriting.""
I sat upright.
"What does it say?""
Angela's voice became quieter.
"It says, 'For Marcus, only if Denise ever enters our lives.''"
I couldn't move.
"What?""
"I think Alicia knew something.""
I stared at the windshield.
"Angela, don't open it.""
"We haven't.""
"Keep it safe. I'm coming.""
I started the engine.
May you like
And as I drove away, I couldn't stop thinking about one question.
How could Alicia have written Denise's name in a letter years before I had ever met her?
