Chapter 2: The Woman Who Had a Key
Marcus recovered quickly.
Too quickly.
He bent down, picked up the towel, and forced a laugh.
“Daniel? Probably the maintenance guy. Why are you making everything complicated?””
I looked at the screen again.
“Maintenance workers don't get permanent guest credentials.””
“Lauren, I don't know what you're talking about.””
“Then why did your face change when I mentioned his name?””
Brianna was standing near the pool steps, her wet hair dripping onto her shoulders.
She glanced between us.
“Marcus, you told me you were handling everything.””
He turned sharply.
“Can you please shut up for five minutes?””
I looked at her.
“Handling what?””
She hesitated.
Marcus stepped between us.
“Lauren, this is getting ridiculous. You're upset, and I understand that. But you're making assumptions about things you don't understand.””
I folded my arms.
“Then explain them.””
He sighed dramatically.
“Daniel is a friend. He helped me with some things around the house.””
“Which things?””
“Repairs. Deliveries. Nothing important.””
I stared at him.
For nearly three years, Marcus had treated this house as though it belonged to him.
He chose the furniture for the guest bedrooms. He invited friends over without asking. He even complained when I hired a landscaping company because he preferred someone he knew.
At the time, I had considered those things signs that he felt comfortable.
Now, I wondered how much of that comfort came from believing I would never challenge him.
“Marcus, I want you to collect your things.””
He shook his head.
“Not happening.””
I blinked.
“What?””
“You heard me. I'm not leaving because you're having an emotional episode.””
“An emotional episode?””
“Yes. You're angry. You're hurt. You're not thinking clearly.””
Brianna let out a nervous breath.
“Marcus, maybe you should just go.””
He pointed at her.
“Stay out of this.””
I walked toward the patio doors.
“I'm calling security.””
Marcus followed me.
“You wouldn't dare.””
I stopped.
“Try me.””
He grabbed my wrist.
Not hard enough to leave a mark.
Just hard enough to remind me that he still thought he could stop me.
I looked down at his fingers.
“Let go.””
“Lauren, listen to me.””
“Let. Go.””
He released me.
I picked up my phone and called the private security company that monitored the property.
A woman answered.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Hayes. How may I assist you?””
“This is Lauren Hayes. I need two guest credentials revoked immediately. Marcus Reed and Brianna Collins.””
There was a brief pause.
“Certainly, ma'am. Before I proceed, are you requesting the removal of all associated access permissions?””
I looked directly at Marcus.
“Yes. All of them.””
“Understood. One moment.””
Marcus started pacing.
“You're making a huge mistake.””
The security operator returned.
“Ms. Hayes, I can see the two credentials. However, there's another issue.””
My stomach tightened.
“What issue?””
“Your property administrator account was modified last Thursday.””
I frowned.
“Modified how?””
“The primary contact email was changed. We also received a request to add another property administrator.””
I looked at Marcus.
He stopped pacing.
“Who requested it?””
“The request was submitted using your property credentials, but the authorization document lists another person as the approving party.””
“Whose name?””
“Daniel Whitmore.””
The name hit me like cold water.
I didn't know Daniel Whitmore.
I had never met him.
“Please read me the email address associated with that request.””
She did.
It wasn't mine.
It wasn't Marcus's personal email, either.
It belonged to a business I had never heard of.
“Cancel the administrator request,” I said.
“Restore my original account and send me the complete activity report.””
“Certainly, Ms. Hayes.””
I ended the call.
Marcus was watching me.
“Who is Daniel Whitmore?”” I asked.
He rubbed his forehead.
“Someone I know through business.””
“What business?””
“Lauren, not now.””
“Why was he added as an administrator to my property?””
“It's a security arrangement.””
I laughed without humor.
“My security arrangement?””
“Look, I was trying to make things easier.””
“For whom?””
He didn't answer.
Brianna suddenly moved toward the patio doors.
Marcus noticed.
“Where are you going?””
“I'm leaving.””
“Wait.””
She grabbed her cover-up from the chair, then remembered where it was.
Her eyes moved toward the fireplace.
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me.””
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
“Your clothes are burned,” I said.
“But there are towels inside.””
She looked at Marcus.
“You said this was practically your house.””
Silence.
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Brianna, please.””
She laughed bitterly.
“Don't please me. You told me your relationship was over. You told me you were only waiting for the right time to tell her.””
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
“Waiting for the right time?””
Brianna looked at me.
“That's what he said.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Enough!””
She flinched.
Then she turned back to me.
“Look, I didn't know everything. He told me you were basically separated.””
I nodded slowly.
“And the house?””
She swallowed.
“He said he was going to sell it.””
My fingers tightened around my phone.
“Sell it?””
Marcus looked away.
Brianna continued, her voice becoming quieter.
“He said you were moving to California. That the paperwork was already being handled.””
I stared at Marcus.
Three years.
Three years of sharing dinners, holidays, vacations, and conversations about our future.
And apparently, while I was planning our anniversary trip, he had been telling another woman that my home was about to become his property to sell.
“Marcus,” I said, “what paperwork?””
He stepped forward.
“Lauren, she's confused.””
“Then show me.””
“It's complicated.””
“Show me.””
He looked toward the house.
That was when I noticed something.
The small leather briefcase he usually kept in his office was sitting beside the patio doors.
It wasn't there when I arrived.
I walked toward it.
Marcus moved faster.
“Don't touch that.””
I stopped.
“Why?””
“It's business.””
“Then you won't mind if I look.””
He reached for the handle.
I pulled my phone out and photographed it.
“I'm not asking you again.””
His jaw tightened.
“Lauren, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.””
I stared at him.
“Funny. I was about to say the same thing.””
Brianna suddenly spoke from behind us.
“Marcus, you told me the deed was already transferred.””
The entire backyard went silent.
Even Marcus seemed to forget how to breathe.
I turned slowly.
“What deed?””
Brianna covered her mouth.
Marcus grabbed her arm.
“Get inside. Now.””
She pulled away.
“No. I'm done protecting you.””
May you like
Then she looked at me.
“Lauren, there's something you need to know about the documents he signed.””
