Chapter 6
The Man Who Tried to Steal My Tomorrow
By noon, my apprenticeship enrollment had been restored.
Mr. Harris and the IT department verified that the withdrawal request was inconsistent with my normal account activity.
They also confirmed that someone had used my saved login credentials from a device I didn't recognize.
The program accepted my explanation.
My signed documents remained valid.
And the position I'd earned was still mine.
I sat in Mr. Harris's office holding the confirmation letter.
My hands trembled.
"Thank you."
He smiled.
"Don't thank me."
I looked up.
"You did the work to earn this opportunity."
My eyes filled.
He leaned forward.
"Now make the most of it."
I nodded.
"I will."
Mom hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe.
"My baby."
I laughed through tears.
"Mom, you're crushing me."
She laughed.
"Good."
For the first time in months, I felt proud without immediately feeling guilty.
I'd worked hard.
I'd earned something.
And nobody was going to take it away.
But the damage Marcus had caused wasn't over.
That afternoon, Mom and I met attorney Rachel Coleman.
She had reviewed the property documents.
Her expression was serious.
"Ms. Johnson, we have enough information to challenge the attempted transfer."
Mom exhaled.
"Thank God."
Rachel nodded.
"But I need you to understand something."
I leaned forward.
"What?"
"The documents show someone used a notarized signature page to support the filing."
Mom frowned.
"I never met with a notary."
Rachel nodded.
"That's why we're investigating."
My stomach tightened.
"Who notarized it?"
Rachel opened the file.
"Gerald Price."
The real estate agent.
Marcus's friend.
I felt sick.
Mom stared at the name.
"Gerald?"
Rachel nodded.
"We've contacted the county recorder and requested a formal review."
She looked at Mom.
"The transfer has been flagged."
Mom covered her mouth.
Rachel continued.
"We're also preparing to seek an injunction preventing any further attempt to sell or encumber the property while this is investigated."
I felt relief.
Then she added, "And we need to discuss your marital finances."
Mom looked exhausted.
"What about them?"
Rachel placed several bank statements on the table.
"We found transactions linked to an account you weren't aware of."
Mom froze.
"What account?"
Rachel slid the papers toward her.
"An account Marcus opened last year."
I looked over Mom's shoulder.
The statements showed regular deposits.
Small at first.
Then larger.
Two hundred dollars.
Five hundred.
Eight hundred.
My stomach twisted.
Those amounts looked familiar.
They matched the money Marcus had taken from me.
Rachel pointed toward the transfer records.
"Some of the funds appear to have come from your household accounts."
Mom stared.
"Where did he send the money?"
Rachel turned the page.
A name appeared.
VANESSA WALKER.
Mom closed her eyes.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she whispered, "He was using my son's money to support another family."
I looked down.
I wasn't angry at Noah.
He was just a little boy.
He deserved support from his father.
But Marcus had chosen to steal and lie instead of taking responsibility.
I swallowed.
"Is Vanessa involved in the fraud?"
Rachel shook her head.
"We haven't seen evidence of that."
Mom nodded.
"She called me."
Rachel looked interested.
"Has she provided the messages?"
"Yes."
Mom opened her phone.
She showed Rachel photographs of the forged deed.
Messages about the planned sale.
And screenshots of Marcus promising to buy Vanessa a new house.
Rachel studied everything carefully.
Then looked at Mom.
"These could be important."
Mom nodded.
"I want to cooperate."
I looked at her.
She seemed different.
Still exhausted.
Still hurt.
But no longer confused about what needed to happen.
That evening, Vanessa called again.
Mom answered.
"Hello?"
Vanessa sounded nervous.
"Can we meet?"
Mom hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because Marcus came to my apartment."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"He was furious."
Mom looked toward me.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No."
A pause.
"But he threatened to take Noah."
I felt cold.
Mom's expression changed.
"Where is Noah now?"
"With me."
Vanessa began crying.
"He said if I kept talking to you, he'd make sure I never saw my son again."
Mom closed her eyes.
I watched her face.
I knew she was hurting.
But she didn't hesitate.
"Vanessa, listen carefully."
The woman went quiet.
"Document everything. And if he threatens you again, call the police."
Vanessa began sobbing.
"Thank you."
Mom's voice softened.
"Our children shouldn't have to pay for his choices."
I stared at her.
I had never been prouder.
The next morning, Rachel arranged a meeting at her office.
Vanessa arrived carrying a folder.
She was a young woman with tired eyes and a nervous smile.
She looked nothing like the villain I'd imagined.
She looked scared.
Her hands trembled as she sat across from Mom.
For a moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Vanessa whispered, "I'm sorry."
Mom looked at her.
"I know."
Vanessa began crying.
"I believed him."
Mom nodded.
"So did I."
I felt my throat tighten.
Two women.
Two families.
Both deceived by the same man.
Vanessa opened her folder.
Inside were copies of Marcus's messages.
Financial promises.
Photographs.
And documents Gerald had sent her.
Then she removed one final paper.
Rachel leaned forward.
"Where did you get this?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"Marcus left it at my apartment."
I stared.
It was a copy of a loan application.
The collateral listed was our house.
The requested amount was two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
My stomach dropped.
Mom looked devastated.
"He was going to borrow against my home."
Rachel examined the document.
Then pointed toward the signature.
"Ms. Johnson, is this yours?"
Mom shook her head.
"No."
Rachel nodded.
"Then we need to report this immediately."
I leaned back.
Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
That was almost the entire equity Mom had worked years to build.
Marcus hadn't just wanted grocery money.
He'd wanted everything.
Then Vanessa said something that made the room go silent.
"There's another reason he needed that loan."
I looked at her.
"What?"
She swallowed.
"He owes money to someone named Calvin Brooks."
Rachel frowned.
"Who is Calvin Brooks?"
Vanessa looked frightened.
"Marcus says Calvin is going to ruin him if he doesn't pay."
Mom stared.
"How much does he owe?"
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Almost ninety thousand dollars."
I felt sick.
Then she whispered, "And Marcus told me he was going to use Malik's apprenticeship to get access to the money."
I froze.
"My apprenticeship?"
Vanessa nodded.
"He said there were grants and training funds he could collect if he controlled your paperwork."
My stomach tightened.
Marcus wasn't simply trying to destroy my future.
He'd been trying to turn it into another way to get money.
And I realized something terrifying.
May you like
If Mom hadn't come home when she did, I might have lost far more than a job.
I might have lost the future I'd spent years building.
