Chapter 2: The Man in the Charcoal Suit
The sedan stopped.
The courtyard noise continued for half a second.
Then Marcus Carter stepped out.
Tailored charcoal suit.
White shirt.
Polished shoes.
Trimmed beard.
And in his hands was an enormous bouquet of white roses.
Aaliyah's mouth fell open.
“Dad?””
Marcus looked across the courtyard.
His eyes found her immediately.
The relief on his face was so obvious that Aaliyah felt something inside her break loose.
He hadn't forgotten.
He hadn't abandoned her.
He had come.
Aaliyah started walking toward him.
Then she noticed the expression on his face.
He wasn't smiling.
He was looking at Brianna and Tasha.
Brianna had turned around too.
Her laughter was gone.
Tasha's eyes widened.
Marcus walked slowly toward them.
The courtyard seemed to quiet around him.
He stopped directly behind Brianna.
“Turn around.””
Brianna froze.
Marcus's voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Turn around,” he repeated.
“Say it again while I'm standing here.””
Brianna slowly turned.
Her face changed instantly.
“Mr. Carter?””
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“That's what you called me Monday.””
Tasha looked between them.
Aaliyah stopped several feet away.
“Dad…”
Marcus glanced at her.
His expression softened.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
Aaliyah's eyes filled.
“You came.””
Marcus looked almost offended.
“Of course I came.””
“I thought—”
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Don't finish that sentence.””
Aaliyah walked toward him.
Marcus opened one arm, but she hesitated.
Then she ran into him.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
For a moment, the courtyard disappeared.
She smelled his cologne.
The familiar one he'd worn for years.
She pressed her face against his shoulder.
“You scared me,” she whispered.
“I know.””
“You didn't answer my texts.””
“I couldn't.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked over her head.
At Brianna.
At Tasha.
Then back down at his daughter.
“I'll explain.””
Brianna shifted uncomfortably.
“Mr. Carter, I didn't mean—”
Marcus lifted one hand.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
Tasha swallowed.
“Sir, we were just playing around.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Were you?””
“Yes.””
“You called my daughter pathetic.””
Tasha's face went pale.
“I didn't say—”
“You said she came alone.””
Marcus's voice remained quiet.
“And then you told her to keep telling herself I was coming.””
Tasha said nothing.
Marcus stepped closer.
“That isn't playing.””
Aaliyah touched his arm.
“Dad, it's okay.””
“No, it isn't.””
She lowered her voice.
“I don't want my graduation to become a scene.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then it won't.””
He turned toward Brianna.
“But don't confuse my silence with approval.””
Brianna nodded quickly.
“Of course.””
Marcus held out the bouquet.
Aaliyah stared at the roses.
“They're beautiful.””
“I had them delivered this morning.””
He smiled.
“I wanted to give them to you after you walked across the stage.””
Aaliyah carefully accepted them.
There was a small card tucked among the flowers.
She pulled it free.
Her father's handwriting covered the inside.
*For the woman you became when I wasn't looking. I'm proud of you.*
Aaliyah pressed the card to her chest.
“Dad…”
Marcus smiled.
“You earned every word.””
The photographer approached uncertainly.
“Mr. Carter?””
Marcus turned.
“Yes?””
“Would you like a family photo?””
Aaliyah laughed through her tears.
“Yes.””
Marcus put his hand around her shoulder.
“Absolutely.””
They stepped toward the backdrop.
Brianna moved aside.
Tasha followed.
But before the photographer raised the camera, Brianna's phone buzzed.
She looked down.
Her eyes widened.
Aaliyah noticed.
“What is it?””
Brianna locked the screen.
“Nothing.””
Marcus glanced at her.
“Funny.””
“What?””
“Your face says otherwise.””
Brianna forced a smile.
“It's just a work message.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“Work?””
“Yeah.””
“From whom?””
Brianna hesitated.
“My recruiter.””
Marcus looked at Aaliyah.
Then at Brianna.
“What recruiter?””
Brianna's lips parted.
“I…”
Tasha suddenly grabbed her arm.
“Brianna.””
“What?””
“Show him.””
Brianna pulled her arm away.
“No.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Show me what?””
Brianna looked at Aaliyah.
There was fear in her eyes now.
Not embarrassment.
Fear.
Aaliyah's smile disappeared.
“Brianna?””
Brianna stared at Marcus.
“You really don't know?””
Marcus's brow furrowed.
“Know what?””
Brianna slowly unlocked her phone.
Then she turned the screen toward him.
The photograph displayed on it was from Monday's campus career fair.
Marcus recognized himself immediately.
Underneath his photograph was a company logo.
And beneath that, one sentence:
*FINAL INTERVIEWS — CARTER & ASSOCIATES*
Aaliyah looked at her father.
“Dad…”
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then he looked at Brianna.
“Tell me exactly what happened Monday.””
Brianna took a breath.
And before she could answer, a voice came from behind the graduation backdrop.
“Marcus?””
Everyone turned.
Aaliyah's father went completely still.
The roses slipped slightly in Aaliyah's hands.
Because the woman standing there was holding a folder with Marcus's company logo on it.
May you like
And she looked directly at Aaliyah.
“I think your daughter deserves to know why we canceled the interviews.””