Chapter 2: The Man on the Sofa
I didn’t sleep that night.
I sat in my car outside my apartment complex for almost two hours, staring at the message on my phone.
I read it again.
Then again.
My thumb hovered over the reply button.
Who was this person?
How did they know my name?
And why did they know about Curtis?
I typed:
*Who is this?*
The message showed as delivered.
No response.
I waited.
Nothing.
Eventually, I drove to my friend Nia’s apartment across town.
She opened the door wearing a bonnet and pajamas, then immediately noticed my face.
“Jada?””
I tried to smile.
“I need a place to sit for a minute.””
She stepped aside.
“Come in.””
The moment I sat on her couch, everything I had been holding in came out.
I told her about the money.
About Curtis.
About my mother.
Nia listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she shook her head slowly.
“Wait.””
She raised a hand.
“Your mom has a grown man living with her, and he pays nothing?””
I looked down.
“That’s what she said.””
Nia leaned forward.
“And you’ve been paying?””
“Yeah.””
“How long?””
I swallowed.
“Two years.””
Her expression changed.
“Jada…”
“I know.””
“No. I don’t think you do.””
She lowered her voice.
“You’re not helping your mother anymore. You’re funding a lifestyle.””
The words hurt because they sounded true.
I looked at my phone.
The unknown message was still there.
“I think someone knows something.””
Nia took the phone.
She read it.
“Did you reply?””
“Not yet.””
“Do it.””
“What if it’s a scam?””
“Then you block them.””
She handed the phone back.
“But what if it isn’t?””
I stared at the screen.
Then typed:
*Tell me who you are.*
The response came almost immediately.
*Someone who watched Curtis do this before.*
My heart started beating faster.
I typed:
*Do what?*
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally:
*Take advantage of women who trust him.*
I sat up.
“What does that mean?””
Another message arrived.
*Meet me tomorrow. Public place. Bring nothing except questions.*
Nia watched my face.
“What did they say?””
I showed her.
Her eyes narrowed.
“I don’t like this.””
“Neither do I.””
“Then don’t go alone.””
The next morning, I went back to my mother’s apartment.
Not because I wanted to.
Because I needed answers.
When I opened the door, I immediately noticed something was different.
My mother was sitting at the kitchen table.
Waiting.
Curtis was standing behind her.
The television was off.
The apartment was silent.
“Where were you?””
My mother’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
I closed the door behind me.
“Out.””
“With who?””
I frowned.
“Why does that matter?””
Curtis crossed his arms.
“Because you left here angry and started spreading drama.””
I stared at him.
“Spreading drama?””
My mother looked away.
“Curtis said you were asking people questions.””
“What people?””
Neither answered.
That scared me.
“How do you know I was asking questions?””
Curtis’s expression changed for half a second.
A tiny crack.
Then it was gone.
“I’m just saying.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You’re not just saying anything.””
My mother stood.
“Jada, enough.””
I looked at her.
“Mom, did you know he doesn’t pay anything?””
She sighed.
“Yes.””
The answer came too easily.
I froze.
“You knew?””
“I told you. He helps me.””
“How?””
She looked uncomfortable.
Curtis stepped in.
“You’re being disrespectful.””
I turned.
“No. I’m being curious.””
I pointed toward him.
“You have a job, right?””
He didn’t answer.
“Curtis.””
My mother interrupted.
“Jada.””
“No, I want to know.””
I looked him directly in the eyes.
“What happened to your money?””
The room went quiet.
For the first time, Curtis looked nervous.
Only for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“You think you’re smart.””
I felt cold.
Because that wasn’t an answer.
My mother noticed too.
“Curtis?””
He looked at her.
“It’s nothing.””
But it wasn’t nothing.
I knew it.
She knew it.
And he knew it.
I left before they could say anything else.
Outside, my phone buzzed.
The unknown number.
A new message.
*“I can prove Curtis has done this before. But before I show you, check your mother’s bank statements.””*
I stared at the words.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
*“Because the money he doesn’t pay may not be the only money missing.””*