Chapter 2 - The Company He Thought Was His
Marcus grabbed my wrist just as I turned toward the stage.
"Nia, wait."
I looked down at his hand.
Then I looked into his eyes.
"Let go."
He released me immediately.
But his face remained tight with panic.
"What did your daughter mean?"
I gently guided Lily closer to my side.
"Marcus, we're at a charity event. This isn't the place."
"Did Isaiah Bennett buy my company?"
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Marcus, you're making a scene."
He ignored her.
"Nia, answer me."
I looked toward the stage.
Isaiah was greeting the audience.
Hundreds of people were watching him.
I knew how important tonight was.
The foundation was preparing to open three new educational centers for children in underserved communities.
Isaiah had worked hard to make that possible.
I refused to let Marcus ruin the evening.
"You'll receive the information through the proper channels," I said.
Marcus stared at me.
"What proper channels?"
"Your company's legal representatives."
His face tightened.
"Nia, I own Carter Development."
I took a slow breath.
"You founded Carter Development. That's not the same thing."
His eyes widened.
For a moment, I saw the man I had married.
Not the expensive tuxedo.
Not the polished smile.
The frightened young businessman who used to sit at our kitchen table surrounded by unpaid bills.
Back then, whenever something went wrong, Marcus called me.
I was the one who stayed awake finding solutions.
I was the one who reminded him not to give up.
And when he succeeded, he convinced himself he had done everything alone.
Vanessa touched his arm.
"Baby, maybe she's confused."
Marcus shook his head.
"No. Bennett Capital purchased the controlling debt last week."
He looked directly at me.
"That was your husband's company?"
I didn't answer.
He laughed nervously.
"Impossible."
Vanessa frowned.
"What's controlling debt?"
Marcus swallowed.
"It's complicated."
"Then explain it."
He looked around.
Nearby guests were watching.
His cheeks darkened.
"Not now, Vanessa."
I turned toward Lily.
"Sweetheart, would you like to go see Grandma Evelyn?"
Lily nodded.
My mother was sitting near the front of the ballroom with several foundation volunteers.
I signaled to our family assistant, Denise, who approached immediately.
"Would you take Lily to my mother?"
"Of course, Mrs. Bennett."
Lily kissed my cheek.
"Love you, Mommy."
"I love you more."
She ran toward Denise.
As soon as she was out of hearing distance, Marcus stepped closer.
"Did you do this?"
I frowned.
"Do what?"
"Did you tell your husband to buy my company?"
I stared at him.
Seven years had passed.
Seven years of building a different life.
Seven years of learning that I didn't need Marcus's approval to feel worthy.
And he still believed every important event in my life revolved around him.
"Marcus, I didn't even know you would be here tonight."
He laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't care what you believe."
Vanessa gasped softly.
Marcus's expression hardened.
"You've changed."
"Yes."
"You used to be kinder."
I almost smiled.
"Funny. You used to say I was too weak."
He had no answer.
Onstage, Isaiah began his speech.
I turned toward him.
He was talking about the importance of creating safe spaces for children.
His voice was steady.
Warm.
Passionate.
It reminded me of the first time we met.
Four years after my divorce, I was directing a small nonprofit literacy program in Atlanta.
I was exhausted.
Our funding had been cut.
We were close to closing our doors.
Isaiah came to visit after hearing about our work.
He arrived without photographers.
Without reporters.
Without announcing his wealth.
He spent two hours reading books with children.
Then he asked me what our program needed.
I told him.
He listened.
That was the first thing I loved about him.
He listened.
Not because he wanted something.
Not because he was waiting to speak.
He listened because my words mattered.
Six months later, he asked me to dinner.
A year after that, we married.
And when Lily was born, he cried so hard that the nurse handed him tissues before handing him our daughter.
I had never known love could feel so peaceful.
Now, watching him onstage, I felt that same peace.
Until Marcus spoke again.
"I want a meeting with him."
I turned.
"Then request one."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
He lowered his voice.
"Nia, I built that company."
"I remember."
"I spent ten years building it."
I held his gaze.
"Actually, you spent the first three building it with me."
He flinched.
Vanessa looked between us.
"What does she mean?"
Marcus gave a dismissive wave.
"She's exaggerating."
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"Am I?"
He leaned toward Vanessa.
"My ex-wife helped with some paperwork when we were starting out."
Some paperwork.
I remembered working fourteen-hour days.
I remembered selling my grandmother's jewelry to cover payroll.
I remembered eating instant noodles because every spare dollar went into Marcus's dream.
Some paperwork.
I took a slow breath.
"Marcus, enjoy the gala."
I walked away before he could answer.
For several minutes, I stood near the front of the ballroom, watching Isaiah speak.
Then my mother appeared beside me.
Evelyn Brooks was sixty-three, sharp-eyed, and incapable of pretending she liked someone she didn't.
"I saw Marcus," she said.
I sighed.
"Of course you did."
"He still looks like a man who thinks mirrors are an audience."
I laughed despite myself.
"Mom."
"What? I'm being polite."
She squeezed my hand.
"Are you all right?"
I looked toward Isaiah.
"Yes."
She studied me.
"Really?"
I nodded.
"Seeing him didn't hurt the way I thought it would."
My mother smiled.
"That's because you've healed."
I watched Lily sitting at our table, clapping enthusiastically for her father.
"Yes," I whispered.
"I have."
But our peaceful evening didn't last.
Twenty minutes later, Isaiah stepped off the stage.
He came directly to me.
His smile disappeared when he saw Marcus approaching with two men in dark suits.
One of them was my ex-husband's attorney.
I recognized him immediately.
Richard Sloan.
He had represented Marcus during our divorce.
And he was the man who had once told me that without a husband, I would never maintain my standard of living.
Richard looked at me.
His expression changed.
"Nia?"
"Hello, Richard."
He cleared his throat.
Then turned to Isaiah.
"Mr. Bennett, we need to discuss the Carter Development acquisition."
Isaiah calmly adjusted his cuff.
"Not tonight."
Marcus stepped forward.
"You bought my company without telling me who you were!"
Isaiah raised an eyebrow.
"My identity was disclosed in the transaction documents."
Marcus looked furious.
"Then why didn't anyone tell me you were married to Nia?"
Isaiah's expression became cold.
"Because my wife's personal life isn't part of your business."
Several guests turned.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"You're trying to destroy me."
Isaiah studied him.
"Marcus, I haven't even started reviewing what your company has been doing."
Richard Sloan went pale.
I noticed immediately.
Isaiah continued.
"But my auditors have found several transactions that require explanation."
Marcus swallowed.
"What transactions?"
Isaiah looked at Richard.
"The missing eleven million dollars."
The attorney's face drained of color.
I stared at Isaiah.
Eleven million?
Marcus's voice cracked.
"What are you talking about?"
Isaiah remained calm.
"The money transferred from Carter Development into three private accounts during the last eighteen months."
Richard stepped closer.
"Mr. Bennett, perhaps we should discuss this privately."
Isaiah nodded.
"That would be wise."
Then he looked at Marcus.
"And I strongly recommend you stop speaking before your attorney has reviewed the evidence."
Marcus turned toward Richard.
"Richard?"
The attorney wouldn't meet his eyes.
And suddenly, I understood something.
Marcus hadn't simply lost control of his company.
May you like
Someone inside it had been hiding a much bigger secret.
And judging by Richard Sloan's expression, he already knew exactly what that secret was.
