Chapter 8: The Truth Behind The Account
The question froze me.
"Do you know who originally gave Jasmine access to your account?""
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Because every answer I imagined made the situation worse.
Jasmine.
My father.
My mom.
Dale.
Everyone seemed connected to a piece of this story.
And I was standing in the middle trying to figure out which pieces belonged together.
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What are you talking about?""
My father's voice was quieter.
"Kendra, listen to me carefully.""
I almost laughed.
Because that was exactly what people said before giving you information they should have told you earlier.
"Why should I listen to you?""
A pause.
Fair.
I could hear him breathe.
"I know you're angry.""
"Do you?""
"Yes.""
"No, you don't.""
My voice shook.
"You don't get to know how I feel. You left.""
The silence on the other end was long.
Then he said:
"You're right.""
That surprised me.
No excuses.
No argument.
Just agreement.
"I left.""
The simplicity of it made my anger harder to hold.
Because I had prepared myself for him to defend himself.
"I made mistakes.""
I looked through the glass door of the office.
Dale was watching me.
My mom stood beside him.
Both of them were waiting.
I turned away.
"Then why are you calling?""
"Because you are looking at the wrong person.""
My jaw tightened.
"Jasmine submitted the request.""
"Yes.""
"She tried to take my apartment.""
"Yes.""
"Then why are you acting like there's more?""
"Because there is.""
I looked down.
"What?""
My father took a breath.
"Jasmine didn't discover your account access by accident.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"It means someone helped her.""
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
"Who?""
Another pause.
And then:
"Me.""
The word landed like a physical blow.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't process it.
"What?""
"I gave her information.""
My voice dropped.
"You gave Jasmine access?""
"Not directly.""
"Then explain.""
"I contacted her.""
I closed my eyes.
The anger came back instantly.
"You contacted my roommate?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because I thought she could help.""
I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Help with what?""
"With you.""
The answer made no sense.
"With me?""
"I knew you wouldn't talk to me.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Because you disappeared.""
"I know.""
"So you went through my roommate?""
"I was trying to understand what was happening.""
I looked back toward the office.
Dale's expression had changed.
He could tell something was wrong.
"What did you tell her?""
My father didn't answer.
"Dad.""
It was the first time I had called him that in years.
The word slipped out accidentally.
But he heard it.
So did I.
His voice softened.
"I told her about the original authorization.""
My stomach dropped.
"What authorization?""
"The one from the first application.""
The same document.
The one everyone kept talking about.
"The one where I was listed.""
"Yes.""
I gripped the phone tighter.
"What did you tell her?""
"I told her that if you ever needed help with the apartment, she might be able to guide you through the process.""
"Guide me?""
"Yes.""
"By removing Dale?""
"No.""
His answer was immediate.
"No.""
I believed his surprise.
And that scared me.
Because it meant maybe this was even more complicated.
"Then why did Jasmine do it?""
"I don't know.""
I looked down.
"But you gave her the information.""
"Yes.""
The honesty was painful.
"Why?""
My father was quiet.
Then:
"Because I thought you were about to lose the apartment.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"I saw your financial situation.""
My stomach tightened.
"How?""
He didn't answer quickly enough.
And I knew.
"You accessed my account.""
"I had old access from the application process.""
My chest tightened.
"So you were watching me?""
"No.""
"That sounds exactly like watching me.""
"I wasn't trying to control you.""
"Everyone says that.""
Silence.
I swallowed.
"Everyone.""
My father's voice became softer.
"I know.""
For some reason, that hurt.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly how many people had made choices for me.
And still, he had done it too.
"I saw the roommate payment history.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Your account showed irregular payments.""
I frowned.
"Because Jasmine paid me rent.""
"Yes.""
"That's normal.""
"Not according to the lease.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
The lease.
Always the lease.
"You should have told me.""
"I know.""
"No.""
My voice broke.
"You should have told me everything.""
A long silence followed.
Then my father said:
"You're right.""
Again.
No defense.
No excuses.
Just words I wasn't prepared for.
I leaned against the wall.
"So what now?""
"Now you need to stop the transfer.""
"I know.""
"No.""
His voice became serious.
"Not just Jasmine's transfer.""
I froze.
"What does that mean?""
"It means someone else submitted another request before Jasmine.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
"The request you received today.""
I looked at the office door.
"The one with your signature?""
"Yes.""
"But you said you didn't submit it.""
"I didn't.""
"Then who did?""
My father hesitated.
And that hesitation terrified me.
"Dad.""
Finally, he said:
"I don't know.""
I almost laughed.
"You don't know?""
"No.""
"Then why are you warning me?""
"Because I saw the request before it reached you.""
"How?""
"Because it was sent to me first.""
Everything went silent.
"What?""
"The system sent a notification to every authorized contact.""
I felt sick.
My father had seen it.
Dale had seen it.
Everyone had been connected.
Everyone except me.
"Who submitted it?""
"I couldn't identify the device.""
"Then what do you know?""
His voice lowered.
"I know it wasn't Jasmine.""
I looked at Dale through the glass.
He was no longer waiting.
He was worried.
I opened the office door.
"Dale.""
He immediately walked over.
"What happened?""
I put the phone on speaker.
My father's voice filled the hallway.
Dale froze.
Nobody spoke.
Then my father said:
"Hello, Dale.""
Dale's expression hardened.
"You.""
My father didn't respond.
"You have a lot of nerve calling my daughter.""
"I know.""
"After everything?""
"I know.""
Dale looked at me.
"You trusted this man?""
"No," I said.
"Then why is he on speaker?""
"Because he knows something.""
Dale was silent.
My father continued.
"I know you don't believe me.""
Dale gave a humorless laugh.
"You think?""
"I don't blame you.""
"Good.""
"Dale, listen.""
The way my father said his name felt strange.
Like two men who had spent years avoiding each other were finally standing in the same room.
"I never should have left her.""
Dale didn't answer.
"But right now, that's not the biggest problem.""
Dale looked at the phone.
"What is?""
My father said:
"The person who submitted the transfer request has access to something neither of you understand.""
"What?""
"The original authorization.""
The room went quiet.
Marlene stepped closer.
"What does that mean?""
My father heard her.
"The leasing manager?""
"Yes.""
"Then she needs to check the original submission records.""
Marlene nodded slowly.
"I already have.""
"No.""
His voice sharpened.
"Check who requested the original authorization to be added.""
Marlene frowned.
"Why?""
"Because I didn't request it.""
Everyone froze.
My mom whispered:
"What?""
My father continued.
"I thought I was being added as a contact because Kendra listed me.""
I stared at the phone.
"But I didn't.""
"I know.""
My heart started racing.
"Then who did?""
Nobody spoke.
Marlene rushed back to her computer.
Her fingers moved quickly.
Seconds passed.
Then her face changed.
Dale noticed.
"What?""
She looked up.
"I found the original request.""
My mouth went dry.
"Who submitted it?""
Marlene stared at the screen.
Then she slowly turned the monitor around.
The name appeared.
The same name that had been hidden behind every problem.
The same person who had been quietly making decisions around my life.
My mother.
I looked at her.
She covered her mouth.
"No.""
But the record didn't change.
*Original Authorized Representative Request Submitted By: Melissa Dawson.*
My mom.
And underneath the name was a timestamp.
A date.
May you like
A date that made Dale go completely silent.
Because it was submitted three days before I ever met him.
