Chapter 4: The Name on the Phone
Vanessa went completely still.
Marcus's fingers remained around her wrist, not squeezing, but firm enough to stop her from reaching for the phone.
“Who is Derrick?”” he asked again.
Vanessa pulled her arm back.
“Let go of me.””
Marcus released her immediately.
She rubbed her wrist and glanced toward Maya.
“Go stand with Noah.””
Maya didn't move.
Marcus shook his head.
“No. Maya stays with me.””
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
“This is between adults.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“She became part of this the moment you put her name on that list.””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
The phone buzzed again.
Marcus looked at it.
Vanessa quickly turned the screen facedown.
“Give me the phone,” he said.
“No.””
“Then tell me who Derrick is.””
“You're acting crazy.””
“I'm asking a simple question.””
“He's nobody.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then why does a nobody keep texting you about an account?””
Vanessa's face tightened.
Maya quietly whispered, “Dad…”
Marcus looked down.
“What?””
“I know who Derrick is.””
Vanessa's head snapped toward her.
“Maya.””
Marcus stepped closer to his daughter.
“Who is he?””
Maya swallowed.
“He used to come to our house.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“He was Mom's friend,” Maya continued.
Marcus froze.
“What?””
Maya looked confused by his reaction.
“He came when you were working late.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“That's enough.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“When?””
“It was nothing.””
“How long?””
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
“I am not having this conversation in a shopping mall.””
Marcus blocked her path.
“You've been telling my daughter she has to earn a thirty-four-dollar pair of shoes while someone named Derrick is texting you about an account.””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked around.
People were watching.
A security guard stood near the elevator.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Not here.””
Marcus nodded.
“Fine.””
He picked up the folded list.
“We're going home.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“No.””
Marcus frowned.
“No?””
“You can't just take Maya and leave.””
“She is my daughter.””
“And I'm her stepmother.””
“Exactly.””
The word hung between them.
Noah tugged Vanessa's dress.
“Mom, what's happening?””
Vanessa immediately crouched.
“Nothing, baby.””
Marcus looked at Noah.
“Go sit on that bench for a minute.””
Noah looked at his mother.
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“Go ahead.””
Noah walked away.
Marcus turned back.
“Now talk.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“There is no affair.””
Marcus stared at her.
“I didn't ask if you were having an affair.””
Her face went pale.
“You were thinking it.””
“I was thinking you're hiding something from me.””
“I'm not.””
“You lied about Maya falling.””
Vanessa's lips parted.
“That was one mistake.””
“You lied about the shoes.””
“I didn't lie.””
“You said she had enough.””
“She does.””
Marcus held up the list.
“Then why did you write this?””
Vanessa glanced at the paper.
Her eyes flickered toward Maya.
Maya instinctively stepped closer to her father.
Marcus noticed.
His voice dropped.
“Did you make this list?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Maya?””
The girl nodded.
“She did.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Why?””
Vanessa finally whispered, “Because she doesn't understand money.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“You bought a six-year-old four pairs of shoes today.””
“He needed them.””
“He needed four?””
“He grows.””
“And Maya doesn't?””
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus took out his phone.
“I'm calling the bank.””
Vanessa's head snapped back.
“Why?””
“To ask about every account in my name.””
Her face drained of color.
“Marcus, don't.””
He stopped.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“I mean—don't make this bigger than it is.””
“You're scared.””
“I'm not scared.””
“You are.””
The phone buzzed again.
Marcus looked down.
The screen was still visible.
One new message.
*Derrick: If Marcus finds the second account, we're both finished.*
Marcus read it.
Then read it again.
Vanessa lunged for the phone.
He pulled it away.
“Second account?””
“Give it back!””
“What second account?””
“I said give it back!””
Marcus stepped away.
“What's in it?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with panic.
Maya stared at her.
Marcus slowly looked at his daughter.
“Maya.””
“Yes?””
“Where did you find the list?””
“In Vanessa's bedroom.””
“Was there anything else?””
Maya nodded.
“A folder.””
Vanessa stopped breathing.
Marcus saw it.
“What folder?””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa whispered, “Don't.””
Marcus's voice became cold.
“What was in the folder?””
Maya's hand trembled.
“Pictures.””
“What kind of pictures?””
“I don't know.””
“Of what?””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“Of you.””
Marcus's face changed.
Vanessa stepped backward.
“And there was a bank statement,” Maya whispered.
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“What bank?””
Maya shook her head.
“I don't remember.””
Vanessa suddenly grabbed Noah's hand.
“We're leaving.””
Marcus moved toward her.
“No. You're not.””
Vanessa pulled Noah behind her.
“You can't keep us here.””
“I said we're going home.””
“I don't want to go home with you.””
Marcus stopped.
For the first time, fear appeared openly on Vanessa's face.
Not anger.
Not irritation.
Fear.
Marcus looked at the phone in his hand.
Then at Maya.
Then at Vanessa.
“Tomorrow morning,” he said quietly, “we're going to the bank.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“And you're going to explain every dollar.””
She stared at him.
“You'll regret this.””
Marcus didn't blink.
“Maybe.””
His phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Marcus?””
Marcus frowned.
“Who is this?””
The caller took a breath.
“My name is Derrick.””
Marcus looked directly at Vanessa.
The color disappeared from her face.
Derrick continued.
“You need to hear what Vanessa has been doing before you go home.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“What has she been doing?””
There was a long silence.
Then Derrick said six words that made Marcus look at Maya.
May you like
“She isn't the only child involved.””
The call ended.
