Chapter 4: The Man at the Door
The ballroom doors swung open.
Marcus turned.
A Black man in a charcoal suit stood beneath the chandelier light, his expression unreadable.
Vanessa stopped breathing.
“Derek,” she whispered.
Marcus looked at her.
“That’s him?””
Derek slowly stepped inside.
The guests parted without being asked.
Maya tightened her grip on her phone.
Derek’s eyes moved across the room until they found Vanessa.
“You really got married without me?”” he asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You need to leave.””
Derek looked at him.
Then at the wedding ring on Marcus’s hand.
A faint smile appeared.
“I’m guessing she didn’t tell you.””
“Tell me what?””
Vanessa moved between them.
“Derek, please. Not here.””
Derek laughed softly.
“You said there wouldn't be a problem.””
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“What problem?””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
“No. You listen to me.””
His voice carried through the room.
“You knew this man.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
She looked down.
“Before you.””
The words landed harder than a slap.
Marcus stared at her.
Derek walked closer.
“Before him, after him, during him.””
“Shut up,” Vanessa snapped.
Derek’s smile disappeared.
“You want me to shut up after what you promised?””
Maya stepped forward.
“Let him talk.””
Vanessa spun around.
“You stay out of this!””
Maya raised her phone.
“You're forgetting something.””
Vanessa froze.
Maya tapped the screen.
The recording resumed.
Vanessa’s recorded voice filled the ballroom.
“I only need Marcus to sign the transfer papers after the wedding.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“Transfer papers?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“It wasn't what you think.””
Derek scoffed.
“She told me the same thing.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What transfer?””
Derek reached inside his jacket.
Maya immediately stepped between him and Marcus.
“Don't.””
Derek slowly removed a folded document.
“I’m not here to hurt anybody.””
He held it up.
“I’m here because she owes me.””
Marcus didn’t take the paper.
“What does she owe you?””
Derek looked directly at Vanessa.
“Everything.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
Marcus took the document.
He unfolded it.
His eyes moved across the first page.
Then stopped.
“This is my account information.””
Vanessa whispered, “Marcus…”
“My investment account.””
“I can explain.””
“This has my signature.””
“No.””
Marcus looked at the bottom of the page.
The signature was unmistakably his.
Except he had never signed it.
His fingers began to tremble.
“This isn't my signature.””
Derek nodded.
“I know.””
Marcus looked up.
“Then how did you get it?””
Derek glanced at Vanessa.
“She did.””
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“That's a lie!””
Derek pulled out another paper.
“She sent me copies of your driver's license, your bank statements, and your signature.””
A woman near the back of the ballroom covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at Vanessa as if the room had suddenly become too small.
“You stole my identity?””
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“After the wedding.””
Maya's voice was quiet.
“Exactly.””
Marcus turned.
“What do you mean?””
Maya held up her phone.
“She wasn't planning to leave with the money.””
Derek looked at Maya.
“You found that too?””
Maya nodded.
“I found something else.””
Vanessa stepped toward her.
“No.””
Maya turned the phone around.
A photograph filled the screen.
It showed Vanessa and Derek sitting together in a parked car.
But Marcus barely looked at Derek.
His attention was on the person sitting in the back seat.
A Black woman.
Her face was partially hidden.
Marcus stared.
“Who is that?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Derek's expression changed.
Maya whispered, “That's the part I couldn't figure out.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Who is she?””
Vanessa’s lips parted.
Before she could answer, the woman in the photograph sent Maya another message.
Maya's phone vibrated.
She looked down.
Her face went completely still.
Marcus noticed.
“What?””
Maya slowly raised her eyes.
“She says she’s in this room.””
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And from somewhere behind the guests, a woman's voice said:
“She is.””
