Chapter 5
I didn't sleep that night.
Elaine advised me not to confront Darius, and for once, I didn't argue.
Instead, we arranged for Keisha to provide a written account of what she'd done. Elaine made it clear that her statement wouldn't automatically protect her from consequences, but it could help establish what had happened.
Keisha agreed.
The next morning, she met us at Elaine's office.
She looked exhausted.
Her braids were pulled into a loose bun, and her eyes were swollen from crying.
She sat across from me but couldn't bring herself to look up.
"I deserve whatever happens," she whispered.
I didn't respond.
Elaine placed a notebook on the table.
"Start with the fundraiser. Explain how you met Andre and who introduced you to the situation."
Keisha took a breath.
Then she began.
Darius had been struggling financially when he discovered that several companies were outsourcing their transportation operations.
He wanted to establish a contracting business but lacked the money, experience, and professional connections to compete.
He'd learned that my former employer used outside transportation vendors.
When Keisha attended the charity fundraiser, she knew I worked there.
Darius had shown her my professional profile and encouraged her to speak to me.
At first, she treated our relationship as an opportunity.
Then she fell in love.
She said she'd tried to convince Darius to leave me alone, but he'd reminded her that she owed him.
He had paid some of her bills when she was younger and had helped her through a period of unemployment.
She felt trapped by that debt.
I listened without interrupting.
When she finished, I asked, "Did you ever tell him anything confidential about my work?"
She lowered her eyes.
"I told him what kinds of projects you handled. I never gave him passwords or company records."
"Did you tell him about my interview?"
"Yes."
"Did you give him access to my laptop?"
She hesitated.
"I left your account open for him one evening."
My jaw tightened.
"When?"
"Two weeks ago. You were visiting your mother. He came over and said he wanted to check something on the company website. I thought he was only looking at the job description."
"And you let him use my laptop?"
"I didn't know he'd download anything."
Elaine raised a hand.
"Did you witness him accessing Andre's email?"
"No."
"Did you see him create the documents?"
"No."
"Then distinguish what you personally observed from what you suspect."
Keisha nodded.
She gave us the approximate date and described what she'd seen Darius doing on the laptop. She also explained that she had sent the withdrawal email herself, although Darius had prepared the false attachment.
Her statement was signed.
Elaine secured a copy.
I sat quietly, trying to reconcile the woman across the table with the person I'd loved.
Finally, I asked, "Why didn't you tell me when he first asked for help?"
"Because I was ashamed."
"Of him?"
"Of myself."
She wiped her face.
"I thought if I could keep you from finding out how we met, everything would eventually become normal. Then I got scared you'd leave me. When the interview came up, Darius told me that if you got the job, you'd be gone all the time. He said you'd outgrow me."
I looked at her.
"So you made sure I couldn't grow."
She broke down.
I stood.
"Andre, please."
I turned toward the door.
"I loved you enough to imagine spending my life with you. But I can't spend my life wondering what you'll destroy whenever you're afraid."
I left before she could answer.
Outside, Elaine caught up with me.
"You did the right thing by keeping the meeting documented."
"I don't feel like I did anything right."
"That's because you're grieving a relationship while trying to defend your reputation. Those are two different battles."
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
It was the recruiter.
"Andre, our investigation has identified a serious concern regarding the attached documents. We're reviewing evidence that suggests the material was fabricated."
My heart began pounding.
"Does that mean I'm cleared?"
"Not officially. But we'd like to speak with you again. If the evidence supports your account, we may be able to reopen the interview process."
For the first time in days, I could breathe.
Then the recruiter added, "There's another matter. We received a second message this morning."
My hope faltered.
"What did it say?"
"It claimed you had attempted to influence our hiring process by offering a private business contract in exchange for the position."
I closed my eyes.
Darius had escalated.
"Do you have the message?"
"We've preserved it. The sender attached screenshots of what appears to be a conversation between you and a person identified as Darius Cole."
I gripped the phone.
"I've never had that conversation."
"We understand that. We wanted you to know before our next meeting."
When the call ended, Elaine studied my expression.
"Another fabrication?"
I nodded.
She took a slow breath.
"Then we're going to need more than your word."
I remembered Keisha's old phone.
The messages she said could prove everything.
"Her brother has a device containing the original conversations," I said.
"Can you obtain it legally?"
"I don't know."
"Then we won't guess. We'll document what we know and work through the appropriate channels."
That evening, Keisha called me from an unfamiliar number.
"He knows I talked to you," she whispered.
"How?"
"He found the signed statement."
My stomach tightened.
"How did he find it?"
"I don't know. But he took my phone, and he said if I helped you again, he'd tell everyone I was the one who created all the fake evidence."
I paced across my mother's living room.
"You did create the withdrawal email."
"I know. But he's saying he'll make it look like I did everything alone."
I stopped.
"What do you mean?"
"He says he has a way to make the messages disappear and leave only the ones that make me look guilty."
A door slammed somewhere near her.
Keisha gasped.
"He's back."
"Keisha, call the police if you feel unsafe."
Then I heard Darius's voice in the background.
"Who are you talking to?"
The line went dead.
I called back.
No answer.
A moment later, an email appeared in my inbox.
It contained one sentence.
YOUR GIRLFRIEND HAS MADE HER CHOICE. NOW YOU MAKE YOURS.
May you like
Beneath it was a photograph of Keisha standing outside Elaine's office.
Someone had been watching us.
