Chapter 3 - The Brother Who Wanted Everything
Marcus didn't sleep that night.
Neither did I.
By midnight, our kitchen table was covered with account statements, business contracts, and documents Marcus had pulled from his company's secure files.
Jordan and Maya had finally gone upstairs.
But I knew they weren't sleeping either.
Every few minutes, I heard footsteps overhead.
Marcus stared at another financial statement.
"Raymond knew exactly which documents he needed."
I pulled a chair beside him.
"How?"
"Three years ago, I was trying to bring him into the company."
I remembered.
Raymond had just lost another job.
He had arrived at our house carrying one suitcase and a collection of excuses.
His landlord had supposedly treated him unfairly.
His former boss had supposedly stolen his commissions.
His girlfriend had supposedly abandoned him.
There was always someone else to blame.
Marcus had given him a job handling deliveries and helping in the office.
For six months, things seemed fine.
Then money began disappearing from petty cash.
Vendors complained about payments.
A company fuel card was used hundreds of miles away from any job site.
Marcus investigated.
Raymond admitted he'd been taking money.
He called it borrowing.
Marcus called it theft.
My husband fired him.
But he didn't report him to the police.
"He was my brother," Marcus whispered.
I watched him struggle with the words.
"I thought giving him another chance was the right thing."
"You did what you believed was best."
"And he used that kindness against us."
I reached for his hand.
"We don't know everything yet."
Marcus opened another document.
"The lender lists the money as transferred to a business account I don't recognize."
"Can we find out who owns it?"
"That's what our attorney is going to do."
At seven the next morning, Marcus called our family attorney, Denise Walker.
Denise was a sharp, practical woman who had helped him establish his company.
She listened without interrupting.
Then she asked one question.
"Marcus, did you personally authorize this loan?"
"No."
"Did you approve anyone signing on your behalf?"
"Absolutely not."
"Then do not acknowledge the debt as legitimate. Preserve every record, and don't confront Raymond alone."
She told us to report the suspected identity theft, contact the lender's fraud department, and notify the bank.
She also wanted the children's messages preserved.
Marcus glanced upstairs.
"They're scared."
"I understand," Denise said. "But those messages may establish how your brother manipulated them."
After the call, I made breakfast.
Nobody ate much.
Jordan pushed eggs around his plate.
Maya kept checking her phone.
Marcus finally spoke.
"I owe both of you an apology."
Jordan looked up.
"For what?"
"Yesterday, I embarrassed you in the store."
Maya blinked.
"You're not mad about the money?"
"I am upset about what happened. But I'm more upset that you believed you had to rescue this family."
Jordan swallowed.
"You always say we need to be responsible."
"Responsible doesn't mean fixing problems adults hide from you."
Marcus looked at Maya.
"And earning money doesn't mean trusting anyone who promises easy returns."
Maya nodded slowly.
"But you're still stopping our allowance?"
Marcus sighed.
"Yes."
Jordan looked disappointed.
My husband continued.
"But not as punishment for what Raymond did. We should have explained our expectations long before yesterday."
I finally spoke.
"And we're going to work out a realistic plan together."
Marcus nodded.
"Agreed."
For the first time since the store, I saw a little relief in our children's faces.
Then the doorbell rang.
I walked toward the entrance.
Through the window, I saw Raymond.
He wore an expensive gray suit and carried a leather briefcase.
I froze.
"Marcus."
My husband appeared behind me.
Raymond smiled through the glass.
"Come on, brother. Open up."
Marcus didn't move.
"What do you want?"
Raymond's smile faded.
"We need to talk."
"You can speak through the door."
Raymond glanced toward the driveway.
"Really? You're going to treat family like this?"
Marcus folded his arms.
"Where's the money?"
Raymond sighed dramatically.
"There you go again."
"Answer me."
"Fine. I came to explain."
Marcus opened the door but stood in the entrance.
Raymond tried to step inside.
My husband blocked him.
"Talk."
Raymond adjusted his jacket.
"There's been a misunderstanding."
"A forged loan isn't a misunderstanding."
Something flickered across Raymond's face.
Then he smiled.
"You're getting bad information."
I stepped beside Marcus.
"From the lender?"
Raymond looked at me with open irritation.
"Can you give us a moment?"
"No."
He laughed without humor.
"Still controlling everything, Nia?"
Marcus moved closer.
"Don't speak to my wife that way."
Raymond raised both hands.
"Relax."
Then he lowered his voice.
"Here's the situation. That money was part of a temporary arrangement. I can put everything back."
"When?"
"Soon."
"Today."
Raymond looked annoyed.
"That's not how business works."
Marcus stared at him.
"You took our children's savings."
"They invested voluntarily."
"You lied to them."
Raymond's jaw tightened.
"I gave them an opportunity."
"You told them we were losing our house."
For the first time, Raymond stopped pretending to smile.
"Maybe you should have listened to me when I asked for a real position in the company."
My stomach turned.
There it was.
The bitterness.
The jealousy.
The anger he'd carried for years.
Marcus shook his head.
"You stole from me once. Now you've done it again."
Raymond stepped closer.
"Your company should have been ours."
"I built that company."
"With opportunities Dad never gave me!"
Marcus looked wounded.
"Our father helped both of us."
"Sure. He helped his perfect son."
Raymond's voice grew louder.
"The responsible one. The successful one. The one everyone worshipped."
I watched Marcus's face close.
"Leave."
Raymond laughed.
"You think you can throw me out like last time?"
"Yes."
Raymond opened his briefcase.
He took out a thick folder.
Then he pushed it against Marcus's chest.
"Read that before you act tough."
Marcus didn't take it.
"What is it?"
"A formal demand."
"For what?"
Raymond smiled coldly.
"Your company."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Marcus opened the folder.
He read the first page.
Then the second.
His expression changed from anger to disbelief.
"This is fraudulent."
Raymond shrugged.
"Prove it."
Marcus looked up.
"You think I'm handing you everything I built?"
"I think you'll do whatever keeps your family safe."
A cold sensation crawled along my spine.
"What does that mean?"
Raymond turned toward me.
"It means your husband has forty-eight hours to make a decision."
"Get off our property," Marcus said.
Raymond started walking backward.
Then he stopped.
"One more thing."
He looked past us into the house.
"Tell Jordan and Maya I appreciate their contribution."
I moved toward him.
"Don't you dare mention my children!"
Marcus caught my arm.
Raymond laughed.
Then he walked to his car.
As he drove away, I turned to my husband.
"What was in that folder?"
Marcus handed it to me.
It contained documents claiming Raymond had acquired a controlling financial interest in Marcus's company.
The signatures looked almost real.
The dates matched periods when Raymond had worked for us.
And attached to the final page was something even worse.
A copy of our home's mortgage information.
I looked at Marcus.
"How did he get this?"
My husband's expression was grim.
"I don't know."
Then I noticed a handwritten note tucked behind the documents.
Three words.
ASK YOUR WIFE.
Marcus looked at the note.
May you like
Then he looked at me.
And for the first time in our marriage, I saw suspicion in his eyes.
