Chapter 2: The Account With Her Name
Vanessa stared at the document as though the paper had suddenly caughtessa stared at the document as though the paper had suddenly caught fire.
“That's not mine,” she whispered.
Marcus snatched it from the table.
“Daniel, you're fire.
“That's not mine,” she whispered.
Marcus snatched it from the table.
“Daniel, you're making a serious mistake.””
Daniel folded his hands.
“The account is registered to a company called Vantage making a serious mistake.””
Daniel folded his hands.
“The account is registered to a company called Vantage Lifestyle Holdings. The registration lists Vanessa Reed as its sole director Lifestyle Holdings. The registration lists Vanessa Reed as its sole director.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Marcus, you told me it was just a consulting account.””
“It.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Marcus, you told me it was just a consulting account.””
“It is.””
“Then why is my name on a company?””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Because is.””
“Then why is my name on a company?””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Because I needed a business entity for a project. We discussed this.””
“No, we didn't.””
I needed a business entity for a project. We discussed this.””
“No, we didn't.””
I watched them.
It was fascinating how quickly affection turned into accusation when money entered the room.
Vanessa had arrived wearingI watched them.
It was fascinating how quickly affection turned into accusation when money entered the room.
Vanessa had arrived wearing my husband's bracelet, drinking my expensive my husband's bracelet, drinking my expensive wine, and occupying the chair I had prepared for myself.
Now she looked as though she wished she had never wine, and occupying the chair I had prepared for myself.
Now she looked as though she wished she had never crossed my doorstep.
Daniel removed another document.
“According to the banking crossed my doorstep.
Daniel removed another document.
“According to the banking records obtained through the appropriate legal process, approximately $412,000 was transferred records obtained through the appropriate legal process, approximately $412,000 was transferred into Vantage Lifestyle Holdings over fourteen months.””
I stared at the figure.
Four hundred and twelve thousand dollars.
into Vantage Lifestyle Holdings over fourteen months.””
I stared at the figure.
Four hundred and twelve thousand dollars.
That was more than enough to pay off our mortgage.
More than enough to replace the roof, renovate the house, and secure our retirementThat was more than enough to pay off our mortgage.
More than enough to replace the roof, renovate the house, and secure our retirement.
More than enough to help my younger sister, who had been working two jobs while raising her.
More than enough to help my younger sister, who had been working two jobs while raising her son.
Marcus had always told me we needed to be careful with money.
Apparently, he meant my son.
Marcus had always told me we needed to be careful with money.
Apparently, he meant my money.
“Where did it go?”” I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“Some of it went money.
“Where did it go?”” I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“Some of it went toward property expenses. Some was transferred to another company. And a significant amount was used to purchase luxury goods.””
My eyes moved to Vanessa's wrist.
The bracelet.
The handbag toward property expenses. Some was transferred to another company. And a significant amount was used to purchase luxury goods.””
My eyes moved to Vanessa's wrist.
The bracelet.
The handbag.
The diamond earrings.
Suddenly, the entire room seemed to be displaying receipts.
.
The diamond earrings.
Suddenly, the entire room seemed to be displaying receipts.
Vanessa covered her bracelet with her other hand.
“Marcus, you said you bought those things with your own money.””
He stared at herVanessa covered her bracelet with her other hand.
“Marcus, you said you bought those things with your own money.””
He stared at her.
“I did.””
Daniel opened the final page.
“The purchase records suggest otherwise.””
Marcus threw.
“I did.””
Daniel opened the final page.
“The purchase records suggest otherwise.””
Marcus threw the paper down.
“This is ridiculous. Denise, you're letting a lawyer manipulate you because you're the paper down.
“This is ridiculous. Denise, you're letting a lawyer manipulate you because you're upset about Vanessa.””
I looked at him.
“Are you saying the transfers didn't happen?””
“I'm saying there's context.””
“Then upset about Vanessa.””
I looked at him.
“Are you saying the transfers didn't happen?””
“I'm saying there's context.””
“Then give me the context.””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Daniel closed his briefcase.
“Perhaps give me the context.””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Daniel closed his briefcase.
“Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more appropriate.””
Marcus laughed bitterly we should discuss this somewhere more appropriate.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Of course. You want to drag me.
“Of course. You want to drag me into court. That's what lawyers do.””
“No,” Daniel replied.
“My job is to protect my client. Whether that requires court proceedings depends on what happens next.””
Marcus looked at me.
“You're his client?””
“Yes.””
“Your husband of eight years is standing right here, and you hired into court. That's what lawyers do.””
“No,” Daniel replied.
“My job is to protect my client. Whether that requires court proceedings depends on what happens next.””
Marcus looked at me.
“You're his client?””
“Yes.””
“Your husband of eight years is standing right here, and you hired a lawyer without telling him?””
I almost laughed.
“You opened an a lawyer without telling him?””
I almost laughed.
“You opened an account in my name without telling me. You used my inheritance as collateral without telling account in my name without telling me. You used my inheritance as collateral without telling me. You transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to another woman's company without telling me.””
I paused.
“Do you really me. You transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to another woman's company without telling me.””
I paused.
“Do you really want to discuss who kept secrets?””
Vanessa stood.
“I need to go.””
Marcus grabbed want to discuss who kept secrets?””
Vanessa stood.
“I need to go.””
Marcus grabbed her handbag.
“Sit down.””
“Don't touch my things.””
He released it.
For a moment, I thought she might slap him.
Instead, her handbag.
“Sit down.””
“Don't touch my things.””
He released it.
For a moment, I thought she might slap him.
Instead, she turned toward me.
“Denise, I swear I didn't know where the money came from.””
I studied she turned toward me.
“Denise, I swear I didn't know where the money came from.””
I studied her face.
“Did you know he was married when you started seeing him?””
Her her face.
“Did you know he was married when you started seeing him?””
Her lips parted.
“Yes.””
“Did you know it was our anniversary today?””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
“Then forgive me if lips parted.
“Yes.””
“Did you know it was our anniversary today?””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
“Then forgive me if I struggle to believe you didn't know anything else.””
She picked up her handbag.
Marcus I struggle to believe you didn't know anything else.””
She picked up her handbag.
Marcus stepped between her and the hallway.
“Vanessa, we're not finished.””
She stared at him.
“You told me you were stepped between her and the hallway.
“Vanessa, we're not finished.””
She stared at him.
“You told me you were leaving her.””
“I said I was considering it.””
“You said the house was already yours leaving her.””
“I said I was considering it.””
“You said the house was already yours.””
“It is.””
Daniel quietly cleared his throat.
“Actually,.””
“It is.””
Daniel quietly cleared his throat.
“Actually, Marcus, the property deed is one of the reasons I'm here.””
My husband turned.
Marcus, the property deed is one of the reasons I'm here.””
My husband turned.
“What?””
Daniel removed another document.
“The house at 18 Willow“What?””
Daniel removed another document.
“The house at 18 Willow Creek was purchased using funds from Denise's family trust. The deed identifies Denise as the primary owner Creek was purchased using funds from Denise's family trust. The deed identifies Denise as the primary owner.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“We bought that house together.””
“The records indicate otherwise.””
“I made.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“We bought that house together.””
“The records indicate otherwise.””
“I made the mortgage payments.””
“Some of them,” Daniel corrected.
“But the original purchase funds came from Denise's inheritance.””
I looked around the dining room.
The oak floors.
The custom cabinets the mortgage payments.””
“Some of them,” Daniel corrected.
“But the original purchase funds came from Denise's inheritance.””
I looked around the dining room.
The oak floors.
The custom cabinets.
The white roses in the centerpieces.
Every room.
The white roses in the centerpieces.
Every room held memories of eight years of marriage.
I had chosen the curtains. I had painted the guest bedroom. I had planted the roses.
And held memories of eight years of marriage.
I had chosen the curtains. I had painted the guest bedroom. I had planted the roses.
And Marcus had apparently been telling another woman that everything belonged to him.
Marcus had apparently been telling another woman that everything belonged to him.
Vanessa looked at me.
“Is that why you invited Daniel?””
“No,” I said.
“I invited him because I wanted theVanessa looked at me.
“Is that why you invited Daniel?””
“No,” I said.
“I invited him because I wanted the truth to be present at a dinner where everyone else had been pretending.””
She lowered her eyes.
Marcus moved toward truth to be present at a dinner where everyone else had been pretending.””
She lowered her eyes.
Marcus moved toward me.
“Denise, listen. We can discuss all this privately.””
I stepped back me.
“Denise, listen. We can discuss all this privately.””
I stepped back.
“There's nothing private about what you did.””
“Don't be dramatic.””
“I've heard that word from you for eight years.””
His.
“There's nothing private about what you did.””
“Don't be dramatic.””
“I've heard that word from you for eight years.””
His face darkened.
“Be careful.””
Daniel stood immediately.
“That's enough, Marcus.””
My husband looked at him face darkened.
“Be careful.””
Daniel stood immediately.
“That's enough, Marcus.””
My husband looked at him with open contempt.
“This is between me and my wife.””
“Then perhaps with open contempt.
“This is between me and my wife.””
“Then perhaps you should have treated her like a wife.””
The silence that followed was broken by you should have treated her like a wife.””
The silence that followed was broken by Vanessa's phone.
It vibrated against the tabletop.
She glanced at the screen.
Her face went Vanessa's phone.
It vibrated against the tabletop.
She glanced at the screen.
Her face went pale.
Marcus noticed.
“Who is it?””
“Nobody.””
“Let me see.””
She pulled pale.
Marcus noticed.
“Who is it?””
“Nobody.””
“Let me see.””
She pulled the phone away.
“It's my brother.””
“Then answer the phone away.
“It's my brother.””
“Then answer it.””
Vanessa hesitated before stepping into the hallway.
I watched her disappear around the corner.
A moment later, her voice floated back.
“No. You said it.””
Vanessa hesitated before stepping into the hallway.
I watched her disappear around the corner.
A moment later, her voice floated back.
“No. You said the payment had cleared.””
Silence.
“What do you mean, the the payment had cleared.””
Silence.
“What do you mean, the account is frozen?””
I looked at Daniel.
He had heard it too.
Marcus hurried toward the hallway.
account is frozen?””
I looked at Daniel.
He had heard it too.
Marcus hurried toward the hallway.
“Vanessa!””
She appeared at the doorway, holding her phone.
“They froze the account,” she said“Vanessa!””
She appeared at the doorway, holding her phone.
“They froze the account,” she said.
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
“My bank. They froze the company account.””
He stared at Daniel.
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
“My bank. They froze the company account.””
He stared at Daniel.
“You did this?””
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
“The bank has.
“You did this?””
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
“The bank has its own compliance procedures. If it identifies suspicious activity, it may restrict transactions its own compliance procedures. If it identifies suspicious activity, it may restrict transactions while reviewing them.””
Marcus's breathing changed.
“You can't freeze my money.””
“Then while reviewing them.””
Marcus's breathing changed.
“You can't freeze my money.””
“Then you should probably establish whose money it is.””
Vanessa looked between you should probably establish whose money it is.””
Vanessa looked between them.
“Marcus, what did you do?””
He ignored her.
He turned to me.
“Call Daniel off.””
them.
“Marcus, what did you do?””
He ignored her.
He turned to me.
“Call Daniel off.””
I shook my head.
“I can't.””
“You can. You'reI shook my head.
“I can't.””
“You can. You're my wife.””
I looked at the bracelet on Vanessa's wrist.
Then at the empty chair beside Marcus.
“No,” I said quietly.
“I was your my wife.””
I looked at the bracelet on Vanessa's wrist.
Then at the empty chair beside Marcus.
“No,” I said quietly.
“I was your wife when you thought I would never question you.””
I picked up my napkin and placed wife when you thought I would never question you.””
I picked up my napkin and placed it beside my untouched plate.
“Now I'm just the person you it beside my untouched plate.
“Now I'm just the person you have to answer to.””
Marcus reached for my arm.
Daniel stepped between us.
And for have to answer to.””
Marcus reached for my arm.
Daniel stepped between us.
And for the first time in eight years, my husband had to stand the first time in eight years, my husband had to stand back.
But as Vanessa rushed toward the front door, she stopped and turned around.
“Denise,” she said, her back.
But as Vanessa rushed toward the front door, she stopped and turned around.
“Denise,” she said, her voice trembling, “there's something else you need to know.””
I looked at her.
She glanced at Marcus.
“He voice trembling, “there's something else you need to know.””
I looked at her.
She glanced at Marcus.
“He didn't just tell me the house was his.””
She didn't just tell me the house was his.””
May you like
She swallowed.
“He told me he was going to sell it next week.””
