Chapter 6: The Buyer at My Front Door
"Who is coming tonight?"" I repeated.
Daniel slipped his phone into his pocket.
"No one.""
I stepped toward him.
"I heard you.""
"It's a business matter.""
"At my house?""
He shook his head.
"Nia, please. Don't make this worse.""
I held up the envelope.
"You have five seconds to explain why someone is coming to inspect my property.""
Daniel stared at me.
Then he looked toward the staircase.
"The investor wants to see the house.""
I laughed in disbelief.
"Why?""
"Because the property was offered as collateral.""
"By whom?""
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"By whom, Daniel?""
"Vanessa.""
The room went silent.
"She offered my house to an investor?""
"She said it was part of the agreement.""
"I never agreed to that.""
"I know.""
His answer was so quiet that I almost missed it.
I looked at him.
"You knew I hadn't agreed?""
He nodded.
I felt sick.
"Get out.""
"Nia—"
"Get out of my house.""
He grabbed his jacket and walked toward the stairs.
But before he reached the landing, he stopped.
"There's something else.""
I closed my eyes.
I didn't want another secret.
I didn't want another document.
I didn't want another explanation that would somehow make everything my fault.
"What?""
Daniel turned around.
"Vanessa isn't the person you should be worried about.""
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?""
He looked at the envelope in my hands.
"She didn't come up with the loan arrangement.""
"Who did?""
He hesitated.
Then the doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Daniel looked terrified.
I walked toward the front door.
"Don't open it," he said.
I stopped.
"Why?""
"Because I don't know what they'll do.""
That was the moment I realized this wasn't simply a story about a cheating fiancé and a jealous housekeeper.
There was someone else.
Someone who had lent Daniel money, acquired my personal documents, and was now coming to inspect a property that didn't belong to him.
I moved away from the door and called Mr. Collins.
He answered immediately.
"Nia?""
"Someone is at my house. Daniel says an investor is coming to inspect the property because Vanessa offered it as collateral.""
There was a brief silence.
"Do not let anyone inside," he said.
"I won't.""
"Are you alone?""
I looked at Daniel.
"No.""
"Who is there?""
"Daniel.""
Mr. Collins's voice became firm.
"Stay on the line. I'm contacting the authorities.""
The doorbell rang again.
Then someone knocked.
Three slow, deliberate knocks.
Daniel moved toward the window and looked through the curtain.
His face went white.
"What's wrong?"" I whispered.
He stepped backward.
"That's him.""
"Who?""
"The investor.""
I looked through the narrow glass panel beside the door.
A tall man in a charcoal coat stood on the porch. He held a black leather briefcase and wore polished shoes that looked completely out of place in the rain.
He checked his watch.
Then he looked directly at the window.
As if he knew I was watching.
My phone buzzed.
Mr. Collins had sent a message.
Police have been notified. Do not open the door.
I locked the deadbolt.
The man knocked again.
"Ms. Carter?""
His voice was calm.
"Yes?"" I called through the door.
"My name is Richard Hale. I'm here regarding the outstanding loan secured against this property.""
"This property isn't secured against any loan.""
He sighed.
"That's not what our records show.""
"Your records are fraudulent.""
A pause.
Then he said, "I understand you're upset. But I have documentation signed by you.""
I glanced at Daniel.
He was staring at the floor.
"What documentation?""
"A loan agreement, a property authorization, and a personal guarantee.""
"I never signed any of those documents.""
The man moved closer to the door.
"Perhaps we should discuss this inside.""
"No.""
"Ms. Carter, I'm trying to help you.""
"Then leave.""
He didn't move.
Instead, he took out his phone.
A moment later, mine rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Ms. Carter, this is Richard Hale.""
I looked through the glass.
He was standing directly outside my front door, phone against his ear.
"I'd prefer not to have this conversation through a locked door.""
"Then you should have called before coming.""
He chuckled.
"Your fiancé arranged the appointment.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Did you arrange this?""
He shook his head.
The man continued.
"Mr. Carter informed us that you were fully aware of the financing arrangement.""
"He's lying.""
"Perhaps. But there is a considerable amount of money involved.""
"How much?""
"One hundred and twenty thousand dollars, plus interest and fees.""
I closed my eyes.
The same amount as the claim against my house.
"Who received the money?""
"Mr. Carter's company.""
"Then speak to him.""
"We intend to. But the collateral is your property.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"That collateral is invalid.""
The man became quiet.
Then he said, "You should ask Vanessa Reed about the original agreement.""
My stomach dropped.
"What does Vanessa have to do with you?""
"She introduced us.""
"Where is she?""
"She'll be here shortly.""
I turned toward Daniel.
He was already shaking his head.
"Tell him to leave," Daniel whispered.
I ignored him.
"Mr. Hale, if you don't leave my property, the police will handle this.""
He sighed.
"Very well. But I should warn you that the situation is more complicated than you realize.""
He ended the call.
I watched him return to his car.
For a moment, I thought he was leaving.
Then another vehicle pulled into the driveway.
A black SUV.
The passenger door opened.
Vanessa stepped out.
She wasn't wearing her usual black uniform.
She wore a cream-colored coat, expensive heels, and a diamond necklace I had never seen before.
She walked toward Richard Hale.
He greeted her with a small nod.
They exchanged a few words.
Then Vanessa looked directly at my window.
And smiled.
My phone rang again.
This time it was Daniel's.
He answered.
"Where are you?"" he demanded.
I watched Vanessa approach the porch.
She took out a key.
My spare house key.
The one I'd given her when she started working for me.
Daniel whispered something into his phone.
Then he looked at me.
"Don't let her in.""
I backed away.
But Vanessa was already inserting the key into the lock.
I rushed forward.
The lock turned.
I reached the door just as the handle began to move.
"Vanessa!"" I shouted.
She pushed against the door.
I held it closed.
"Open the door, Nia.""
"You're not coming inside.""
Her voice was suddenly different.
No warmth.
No false concern.
Just impatience.
"Don't be childish.""
I pressed my shoulder against the door.
"Leave!""
She laughed softly.
Then she said something that made me freeze.
"You really think this is about Daniel?""
I didn't answer.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Daniel was just the easiest way into your life.""
I felt my heart hammer against my ribs.
"What do you want?""
She leaned closer to the door.
"I want what your mother promised my family twenty years ago.""
I stopped breathing.
"My mother?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Ask her about the Carter estate. Ask her why my father spent twenty years believing your family stole everything from him.""
I stared through the glass.
Her eyes were cold.
Then she pulled an envelope from her coat and slid it beneath the door.
"Read that before you call the police.""
She stepped back.
Richard Hale opened the SUV door for her.
Before getting inside, Vanessa turned one last time.
"By the way, Nia, your grandmother's diamond wasn't the only thing I took.""
The SUV disappeared down the street.
I picked up the envelope.
Inside was an old photograph of my mother standing beside a young man I recognized immediately.
He was wearing the same distinctive silver watch Daniel had given me years later.
On the back, someone had written:
The Carter family owes us more than a house.
But it was the name underneath that made my hands begin to shake.
*Evelyn Carter — 1998.*
My mother's name.
May you like
And beneath it, in handwriting I had seen on the forged documents, were four words:
She knew what happened.
