Chapter 5: The Secret Agreement
I met Andre the next morning.
Not because I trusted him.
Because I needed answers.
He chose a quiet coffee shop across town.
The kind of place where people whispered and nobody looked twice at strangers.
When he walked in, I understood why Ethan remembered him.
Andre was charming.
Confident.
The kind of man who made people feel comfortable before they realized they were giving him too much information.
He sat across from me.
“Marcus.””
I didn’t shake his hand.
“You know who I am.””
He smiled slightly.
“I’ve known who you are for years.””
That sentence bothered me.
“How?””
“Because Tasha talked about you.””
“Good things?””
His smile disappeared.
“Mostly.””
I leaned forward.
“Why did you contact me?””
“Because you deserve the truth.””
“Funny. Everyone says that right before they reveal another secret.””
Andre accepted that.
“I’m not here to take your wife.””
“Then why are you here?””
He placed a folder on the table.
I didn’t touch it.
“What is that?””
“Proof.””
“Of what?””
“That Tasha has been protecting you.””
I laughed.
“By lying?””
“She was afraid.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Andre looked serious.
“Because it’s true.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were financial documents.
Emails.
Legal records.
Then I saw something that made me stop.
A payment.
A large payment.
From Andre.
To Tasha.
I looked up.
“You paid her?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because she needed help.””
“How long?””
“Eight months.””
Eight months.
Longer than I knew about.
I pushed the papers back.
“You expect me to believe this is innocent?””
“No.””
His answer surprised me.
“I expect you to believe it’s complicated.””
I stood.
“Complicated is what people call things when they don’t want to admit they’re wrong.””
Andre looked at me.
“Your wife found out something about your business.””
I froze.
“My business?””
“Yes.””
“What are you talking about?””
He opened another document.
“This.””
I read it.
And my hands went still.
It was a contract.
A company agreement.
My signature was at the bottom.
But I had never seen it before.
“What is this?””
Andre’s voice lowered.
“Someone used your name.””
I looked at him.
“Who?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“The same person who has been trying to destroy your marriage.””
My phone rang.
Tasha.
I answered.
“Marcus?””
Her voice sounded terrified.
“What happened?””
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“Don’t move.””
My heart started racing.
“Why?””
There was silence.
Then she whispered:
“Because I just found someone inside the house.””
I stood up.
“Who?””
Her breathing became uneven.
Then I heard her say one name.
A name I never expected.
“Your brother.””
I froze.
May you like
Because my brother hadn’t spoken to me in five years.
And he was supposed to be hundreds of miles away.