Chapter 4: The Call That Destroyed Everything
"Mr. Reed, are you still there?""
Daniel Foster's voice pulled me out of the silence.
"Yes. I'm here.""
"Good. I need you to come into the office tomorrow morning. There are several documents we'd like you to review in person.""
I glanced at Nia.
She was standing near the office doorway, gripping the edge of the frame.
"What exactly are you accusing me of?""
"We're not accusing you of anything at this stage. However, your name appears on a vendor agreement, two purchase authorizations, and a financial disclosure form.""
I swallowed.
"What vendor agreement?""
"Reed Property Solutions.""
I closed my eyes.
"That's not my company.""
There was a pause.
"Excuse me?""
"I didn't establish that company. I didn't authorize anyone to establish it. I don't know anything about its operations.""
Daniel's voice became more serious.
"Mr. Reed, I strongly recommend that you preserve any documents or communications related to this matter. Please don't delete anything.""
"I understand.""
"One more thing. The complaint came from our finance director. Approximately $86,000 in payments has been made to the company.""
My knees nearly buckled.
Eighty-six thousand dollars.
My employer had paid money to a company operating under my name.
"Was the work completed?""
"That's part of what we're investigating.""
The call ended.
For several seconds, I stood motionless.
Then I slowly placed my phone on the desk.
Nia spoke first.
"Marcus...""
I turned toward her.
"How much?""
She frowned.
"What?""
"How much money did your company receive from my employer?""
She looked down.
"I don't know the exact amount.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"Jordan handled the payments.""
I turned toward him.
He was still standing near the office door, his backpack hanging from one shoulder.
"Did you receive eighty-six thousand dollars from my company?""
Jordan rubbed his forehead.
"Some of it was legitimate payment for materials and renovation work.""
"Did you actually complete the work?""
He hesitated.
"Not all of it.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Not all of it?""
Nia stepped closer.
"Marcus, the company was struggling. We had employees to pay.""
"We?""
She stopped.
I pointed at her.
"You're not even employed there. You're my wife. And apparently, you've been running a business behind my back using my identity.""
"That's not how it happened.""
"Then tell me how it happened!""
She flinched.
Jordan interrupted.
"Look, I can repay the money.""
I turned toward him.
"With what?""
"I'll sell some equipment. I'll find investors.""
"You're telling me you secretly used my identity, borrowed money in my name, took money from my employer, and now you're going to magically find investors?""
He lowered his eyes.
"I made some bad decisions.""
I stepped toward him.
"You didn't make decisions with your own identity, did you?""
He said nothing.
Nia suddenly started crying.
"Marcus, please. We can fix this together.""
I looked at her.
"Together?""
"Yes. We're married.""
I stared at the ring on her finger.
"You remembered that we're married when the money started disappearing?""
She covered her mouth.
I walked past them into the living room.
My hands were shaking so badly that I struggled to unlock my phone.
I called my older brother, David.
He answered on the second ring.
"Hey, Marcus. Everything okay?""
"No.""
His tone changed immediately.
"What happened?""
"I need you to come over.""
"Are you hurt?""
"No. But I think I've been betrayed by everyone I trusted.""
David was silent for a moment.
"I'm leaving now.""
When I returned to the office, Jordan was whispering to Nia.
They stopped as soon as I entered.
I looked at them.
"Have you two discussed what you're going to tell the police?""
Nia's eyes widened.
"Police?""
"Yes. I think it's time someone investigates why my personal documents were used without my permission.""
Jordan shook his head.
"Don't bring the police into this.""
I stared at him.
"Why not?""
"Because this is a business dispute.""
"Someone used my identity.""
"Your wife gave me the documents!""
The room went silent.
Nia turned toward him.
"Jordan!""
He threw his hands up.
"What? You did!""
I looked between them.
There it was.
The beginning of the blame.
Neither of them was interested in protecting the other anymore.
I took out my phone and started recording the conversation.
Jordan noticed.
"Are you recording us?""
"Yes. I'm documenting what happened.""
Nia moved toward me.
"Marcus, turn that off.""
"No.""
"Please.""
I stared at her.
"Did you authorize Jordan to use my identity?""
She shook her head.
"Not exactly.""
"That's not an answer.""
"I gave him the documents because I thought he needed them for the company registration.""
"Did you know he was applying for a loan?""
She looked at Jordan.
"Yes.""
"Did you know he was using my name as guarantor?""
She started crying again.
"Yes.""
I nodded.
"Thank you.""
Jordan suddenly slammed his backpack onto the desk.
"Enough! You want to destroy everything because of some paperwork?""
I looked at him.
"Some paperwork?""
"Nobody stole your identity to buy a sports car. We were building a business!""
"With money you didn't have.""
"We were going to repay everything!""
"Then why did you forge my signature?""
His face changed.
Nia looked at him sharply.
I noticed.
"Wait.""
I turned toward Jordan.
"Who signed the loan agreement?""
He said nothing.
I looked at Nia.
"Who?""
She whispered, "Jordan.""
Jordan immediately snapped.
"You told me you would handle it!""
My stomach tightened.
I looked at my wife.
"What does that mean?""
She shook her head.
"Nothing.""
Jordan laughed bitterly.
"Nothing? You told me Marcus had already approved it!""
"Because you kept pressuring me!""
"And you said you'd take care of the signature!""
I stared at them.
"Stop.""
Neither listened.
"You said the signature was easy to arrange," Jordan continued.
"You said he wouldn't check!""
Nia slapped her hand over her mouth.
The silence that followed was devastating.
I slowly lowered my phone.
"Who forged my signature?""
Jordan looked away.
Nia began trembling.
And before either could answer, the front door opened.
David walked into the house.
"Marcus?""
He stopped when he saw our faces.
Then he noticed Jordan.
"What is he doing here?""
I looked at my brother.
"David, I need you to hear something.""
I played the recording.
When Jordan's voice filled the room, David's expression changed.
He listened without interrupting.
Then he turned toward Nia.
"Are you serious?""
She looked at him helplessly.
David shook his head.
"Marcus trusted you.""
Nia started crying.
"I know.""
David looked at me.
"Have you called a lawyer?""
"Not yet.""
"Then that's what we're doing.""
I nodded.
But as David picked up the documents, another piece of paper slipped out of the black folder.
It landed faceup on the floor.
David picked it up.
His expression changed.
"What is this?""
I took it from him.
It was a bank notification.
The subject line read:
*Second Credit Facility — Final Approval Pending.*
Below it was a different loan amount.
$250,000.
And beneath the amount was a familiar name.
Mine.
I looked at Jordan.
"Tell me you didn't.""
He backed away.
Nia whispered something that made the entire room go cold.
"He hasn't submitted that one yet.""
I turned toward her.
"Yet?""
She looked at me with tears running down her face.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
Marcus, you need to check your wife's email before she deletes it. There's something about the money she hasn't told you.
And attached to the message was a screenshot.
A screenshot of an email sent by Nia.
To Jordan.
May you like
With the subject line:
*What happens after Marcus signs?*
