The Man in My Wife’s Arms

For a moment, I couldn't hear anything.

The refrigerator hummed somewhere down the hallway. Rain tapped against the office window. A car passed outside.

But all I could see was the document in my hand.

"Say that again," I said.

Vanessa folded her arms.

"Marcus, please don't make this worse.""

I looked at Daniel.

"She said my company was supposed to belong to you.""

Daniel exhaled.

"There's a lot you don't know.""

"Then start talking.""

He stepped inside and closed the office door.

That small gesture made my stomach tighten.

My own brother was closing the door on me.

"Sit down," he said.

I remained standing.

"You're not in a position to give me instructions.""

His jaw tightened.

Vanessa moved toward the leather chair beside my desk.

"Marcus, your business has been struggling. We've been trying to protect the family.""

I almost laughed.

"Protect the family?""

She nodded.

"You've been working constantly. You're never home. You don't even know what's happening around you.""

"Apparently, I know exactly what's happening around me now.""

"That's not fair.""

I placed the document on the desk.

"Tell me about the transfer.""

Daniel finally spoke.

"Six months ago, we started discussing a restructuring plan.""

"Who is we?""

He glanced at Vanessa.

"Me, Vanessa, and a few people from the company.""

I stared at him.

"Without me?""

"You were busy.""

"That's your explanation?""

He rubbed his neck.

"Marcus, the company has grown beyond what you can manage alone. You built it from nothing, but that doesn't mean you're the right person to lead it forever.""

I stared at my brother.

He had been twenty years old when our father died. I'd worked two jobs to keep him in college. I'd helped him buy his first car. When he was fired from his previous job, I'd hired him without asking a single question.

And now he was explaining why I didn't deserve my own company.

"How much?"" I asked.

Daniel frowned.

"What?""

"How much money have you stolen?""

Vanessa gasped.

"Don't accuse him of stealing.""

I turned toward her.

"Then why is my signature on a document transferring my assets to a company I've never heard of?""

Daniel leaned forward.

"Because you agreed to it.""

"No, I didn't.""

"You did.""

"Show me.""

He hesitated.

I noticed it immediately.

"Show me the signed original.""

Daniel looked toward the window.

Vanessa spoke quickly.

"The original is with the attorney.""

"Which attorney?""

"Mr. Collins.""

I knew the name.

Richard Collins had handled several property transactions for our family. He'd also prepared the original incorporation documents for my company.

I reached for my phone.

Daniel stepped forward.

"Marcus, wait.""

I looked at him.

"Move.""

He didn't.

"Just listen to me. If you start making calls, this becomes a legal mess.""

I stared at his face.

"Daniel, you've already made it a legal mess.""

I called Richard.

He answered after four rings.

"Marcus? I wasn't expecting to hear from you tonight.""

"I need to ask you about a transfer agreement involving my company.""

There was a pause.

"What transfer agreement?""

I looked at Daniel.

He was watching me carefully.

"One transferring ownership of my business holdings to a company called Northbridge Capital.""

The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.

Then Richard said something that made me grip the phone tighter.

"Marcus, you need to come to my office immediately.""

"Why?""

"Because the documents I received were never authorized by you.""

I looked at Vanessa.

Her face had gone white.

Richard continued.

"Someone submitted a power of attorney carrying your signature. It gives Daniel authority to act on your behalf.""

I slowly lowered the phone.

"Did you approve it?""

"No. I rejected the original submission because the signature verification was incomplete. But someone has since filed another version.""

My mouth went dry.

"When?""

"Three weeks ago.""

Three weeks.

I'd been in Chicago attending a business conference.

I'd called Vanessa every evening.

She'd complained about missing me. She'd sent me pictures of our dog sleeping on my side of the bed.

And while I was working, she had apparently been preparing to transfer my company.

"Richard," I said, "can you freeze everything?""

"I can help you challenge the documents. But I need you to understand something. There is another issue.""

"What issue?""

"The power of attorney includes your personal property.""

I looked toward the hallway.

Our house.

The house Vanessa and I had bought together.

"Are you telling me someone can sell my house?""

"Not automatically. But the documents appear designed to give Daniel authority over several of your assets.""

I closed my eyes.

"Send me everything.""

"I'll prepare the file tonight.""

When I ended the call, neither Vanessa nor Daniel moved.

I put my phone on the desk.

"Three weeks ago," I said.

Daniel looked away.

Vanessa began speaking.

"Marcus, we can fix this.""

I turned toward her.

"How?""

"We'll explain everything to the attorney. We'll withdraw the documents.""

"Why?""

She blinked.

"Because it was wrong.""

I studied her face.

"That's interesting. You didn't think it was wrong when you were planning to take my company.""

Daniel slammed his palm against the desk.

"Enough!""

I stared at him.

He was breathing heavily.

"You're acting like you've been some perfect husband and brother. Do you know what it's been like living in your shadow?""

I said nothing.

He continued.

"Everything has always been about Marcus. Marcus the successful businessman. Marcus the provider. Marcus the golden boy.""

I slowly nodded.

"So this was revenge?""

"No.""

"Then what?""

Daniel looked at Vanessa.

She lowered her eyes.

And suddenly I understood something.

This wasn't just about money.

They had both convinced themselves that I deserved to lose everything.

I turned to my wife.

"Did you help him?""

She didn't answer.

"Did you help him forge my signature?""

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Marcus, I was trying to make sure I had something if our marriage ended.""

I stared at her.

"Our marriage?""

She wiped her cheek.

"You were never around. You cared more about your company than me.""

I looked at the candles still burning in the living room.

The champagne.

The birthday dinner.

The second cake.

"Is that why you slept with my brother?""

She looked down.

Daniel stepped between us.

"Don't talk to her like that.""

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

He was defending the woman he'd been sleeping with.

In my house.

While I was standing there holding evidence of their attempted fraud.

I picked up the transfer document and folded it carefully.

"I'm leaving.""

Vanessa followed me.

"Marcus, where will you go?""

"Somewhere you can't lie to me.""

She grabbed my arm.

"Please. We can work this out.""

I looked down at her hand until she released it.

"Don't touch me.""

I walked into the bedroom and packed a few clothes.

When I returned, Daniel was sitting on the sofa.

He had poured himself another glass of champagne.

I stopped.

"You're still drinking my champagne?""

He looked up.

"Seriously?""

I almost admired his nerve.

Almost.

Vanessa stood near the staircase.

"Marcus, don't make a decision tonight that you'll regret.""

I opened the front door.

Then I remembered something.

I turned around.

"One question.""

She looked at me.

"How long have you been sleeping with him?""

Her face crumpled.

Daniel looked at the floor.

Finally, Vanessa whispered, "Eight months.""

Eight months.

I did the math.

Eight months earlier, Daniel had called me at two in the morning because he said he was having trouble sleeping.

I'd stayed on the phone with him for nearly an hour.

I'd told him he was my brother and that he could always count on me.

That same week, Vanessa had surprised me with a weekend getaway.

She'd said she wanted to reconnect.

I looked at her.

"Was he in our bed?""

She began crying.

I didn't wait for an answer.

I stepped outside.

The rain had stopped, but the driveway was wet. My roses were scattered near the entrance, their white petals stained with dirt.

I drove to a hotel downtown.

At 1:17 a.m., my phone vibrated.

A message from Vanessa.

Please come home. Daniel has something important to tell you.

I ignored it.

Then another message appeared.

It's about the company.

I switched off my phone.

For the first time in eleven years, I slept somewhere my wife couldn't reach me.

The next morning, I met Richard Collins at his office.

He placed a thick folder on the conference table.

"Marcus, I've reviewed the documents," he said.

"And there's something you need to see.""

He opened the folder.

Inside were bank statements, property records, and copies of several signed agreements.

One page showed a payment of $180,000 from my company account to Northbridge Capital.

Another showed a second transfer.

$250,000.

I stared at the numbers.

"Where did this money go?""

Richard adjusted his glasses.

"That's what concerns me.""

He turned another page.

The receiving account belonged to a woman named Elaine Carter.

I recognized the surname.

Elaine was Vanessa's mother.

"Why is my money going to her?""

Richard didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he slid a printed email across the table.

The subject line read:

*FINAL DISTRIBUTION BEFORE MARCUS RETURNS.*

I looked at the sender.

Daniel.

Then I read the message.

Once the ownership transfer is completed, we'll move the remaining funds. Vanessa can file for divorce afterward. Marcus won't have enough control to stop us.

My hands began shaking.

But the worst part was the final sentence.

Mom says we should finish before he discovers what happened to the original investment.

I looked up.

"Original investment?""

Richard nodded slowly.

"Marcus, I think this goes much further back than the affair.""

Before I could respond, my phone rang.

It was my mother.

I answered immediately.

"Mom?""

Her voice sounded frightened.