Chapter 2: The Secret He Was Still Hiding
"Tell me what?"" Nia asked.
Malik didn't answer.
The elevator doors began to close, and one of the security officers pressed the button to hold them open.
Brianna stood beside her suitcase, gripping the pregnancy test so tightly that her knuckles had turned pale.
"Malik," she whispered again.
"She deserves to know.""
Nia looked from one face to the other.
The first betrayal had been a knife.
Whatever they were hiding now felt like someone twisting it.
"You're not leaving until somebody tells me what that means," Nia said.
Malik dragged a hand over his short fade.
"Nia, this isn't the time.""
She gave a humorless smile.
"You lost the right to decide what time it is.""
One of the security officers, a tall man named Officer Daniels, stepped closer but kept his voice calm.
"Ma'am, do you want us to stay here while you sort this out?""
"Yes," Nia replied.
"Please.""
Officer Daniels nodded.
His colleague, Officer Brooks, moved the suitcases away from the elevator doors so nobody would trip over them.
Malik looked embarrassed by the attention.
Good, Nia thought.
Let him feel uncomfortable for once.
Brianna lowered the pregnancy test.
"The baby isn't the only thing I was hiding.""
Nia's heartbeat thudded in her ears.
"What else?""
Brianna looked at Malik.
He shook his head almost imperceptibly.
It was the smallest movement, but Nia caught it.
Even now, he was telling Brianna what she was allowed to say.
Something inside Nia hardened.
"Brianna, look at me.""
Her friend raised her eyes.
"Did Malik tell you something about me?""
Brianna swallowed.
"Yes.""
"What?""
"He said you were going to leave him after graduation.""
Nia stared at her.
"What?""
"He said your father had already arranged for you to move to another city for work. He said you were planning to end the relationship once you got your degree.""
For a moment, Nia couldn't even form a response.
Then she looked at Malik.
"Did you tell her that?""
Malik rubbed his jaw.
"I was trying to explain where we were emotionally.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He exhaled sharply.
"Yes, I told her.""
"Why?""
"Because things were changing, Nia! You were getting opportunities, meeting people, talking about moving forward. I didn't know where I fit into your life anymore.""
"So you slept with my best friend because you were afraid I'd leave?""
"I didn't say that.""
"You didn't have to.""
Nia turned back to Brianna.
"And you believed him?""
Brianna began crying again.
"He said you were already looking at apartments in Chicago. He said your father wanted you to move away and that you wouldn't tell me because you didn't want me to feel abandoned.""
Nia blinked.
Chicago.
She had never applied for a job in Chicago.
Her father's company had offices in Atlanta, where Nia had lived her entire life.
She looked at Malik.
"Where did you get Chicago from?""
He hesitated.
That hesitation told her he had prepared the lie in advance.
"I heard you talking about it.""
"When?""
"Months ago.""
"I have never talked about moving to Chicago.""
Malik's mouth tightened.
"Maybe you don't remember.""
Nia actually laughed.
It was a quiet, stunned sound.
"You are standing in front of me, telling me I don't remember my own plans?""
"Nia, that's not what I meant.""
"Then tell me what you meant.""
He glanced at the security officers, clearly wishing they would disappear.
Officer Brooks looked straight ahead, giving the couple as much privacy as the situation allowed.
Brianna wiped her face.
"There's more.""
Malik turned sharply.
"Stop.""
Brianna flinched.
Nia saw it.
She also saw something else: Brianna wasn't just afraid of losing her friendship. She was afraid of Malik.
That realization didn't erase what Brianna had done, but it complicated the picture.
Nia crossed her arms.
"What did he tell you?""
Brianna took a shaky breath.
"He said you were using him.""
Nia felt the words land slowly.
"He said you wanted him to get the job through your father, then planned to leave him once he was established. He said you were embarrassed by his background and wanted to make sure he couldn't accuse you of abandoning him without anything to show for the relationship.""
Nia looked at Malik.
For three years, she had helped him prepare for interviews, reviewed his applications, and encouraged him when rejections arrived.
She had spent evenings researching certification programs while he watched football on the couch. She had loaned him money when his car needed repairs and covered their groceries when his paycheck came late.
And now he had turned her support into evidence of cruelty.
"Do you hear yourself?"" she asked.
Malik's voice rose.
"I was insecure!""
"So you made me the villain in a story you invented?""
"I didn't know what else to do.""
"Try telling the truth.""
He looked away.
Nia's phone vibrated on the nightstand inside the bedroom.
She ignored it.
Brianna continued, speaking so quietly that Nia had to lean closer.
"He said your father had promised to make sure you married someone with money. He said you were only staying with Malik because you felt sorry for him.""
Nia shook her head.
"My father never said anything like that.""
"I know that now.""
"How?""
Brianna's face crumpled.
"Because I called him.""
The hallway went silent.
Nia stared at her.
"You called my father?""
"Last week.""
"Why?""
"I wanted to ask if he really thought you were planning to leave Malik.""
Nia felt cold all over.
Brianna reached into her purse with trembling hands and pulled out her phone.
"I have the messages.""
She unlocked the screen and held it out.
Nia didn't take it.
"Read them.""
Brianna glanced at Malik, then looked down at her phone.
"He texted me that you had told your father you were done with him. He said the recommendation was just a way for your family to keep him dependent on you.""
Malik stepped forward.
"You're leaving things out.""
Brianna recoiled.
Officer Daniels immediately moved between them.
"Sir, take a step back.""
Malik stopped.
Nia looked at the phone.
"Keep reading.""
Brianna's voice broke.
"He said if I cared about him, I wouldn't let you ruin his life.""
Nia closed her eyes briefly.
There it was.
The trick that had held Brianna inside the lie.
Not love.
Not even desire.
Guilt.
Malik had made Brianna believe she was saving him from Nia, when she had actually been helping him betray her.
But Brianna had still chosen to believe him.
She had still hidden the affair.
And the pregnancy test was still in her hand.
Nia opened her eyes.
"Did he tell you he loved you?""
Brianna nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did he tell you he was going to leave me?""
"Yes.""
"Did he tell you when?""
Brianna hesitated.
"After he got the job.""
Nia turned toward Malik.
He looked down at the carpet.
That was enough.
"You weren't planning to leave me before you got the job," Nia said.
"You were planning to use my father's recommendation, keep me paying for half of everything, and then walk away once you had what you wanted.""
Malik's face flushed.
"That's not fair.""
"Then explain it.""
"I was trying to secure my future!""
"Without me knowing you were making plans against me?""
"I didn't know how things would work out!""
Nia pointed toward the suitcases.
"Apparently, you knew how to pack.""
Brianna covered her face.
Malik's voice dropped.
"I loved you.""
Nia shook her head.
"Maybe you loved having me.""
He stared at her.
She continued, each word measured.
"You loved that I believed in you. You loved that my father answered your calls. You loved that I made your life easier and told everybody how proud I was of you. But the minute you thought I might stop being useful, you made up a story where I was the enemy.""
Malik's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen.""
"Yet here it is.""
Her phone vibrated again.
This time, she turned and retrieved it.
Three missed calls from her father.
One text.
Sweetheart, call me when you can. HR just informed me Malik submitted a revised application this morning.
Nia frowned.
A revised application?
She opened the message.
Her father had attached a screenshot from the company's recruitment portal.
The document listed Malik's work history, qualifications, and professional references.
Nia read it once.
Then again.
Under the heading marked Professional Reference, her father's name appeared.
But the statement beneath it wasn't the one he had written.
It claimed that Nia Carter had personally recommended Malik, described him as her fiancé, and confirmed that their families had discussed a future marriage.
Nia's fingers went numb.
She zoomed in on the screenshot.
There was another line beneath the statement.
Personal relationship verified by candidate.
Nia lifted her eyes toward Malik.
"What did you submit to my father's company?""
He went pale.
"Nia—"
"Did you forge his recommendation?""
"No.""
"Then why does this document say he endorsed you for being my fiancé?""
Malik looked toward the elevator.
Officer Daniels stepped into his line of sight.
"Sir, answer her question.""
Malik swallowed.
"I was going to fix it.""
Nia's voice became frighteningly quiet.
"Fix what?""
"The application.""
"You used my name?""
"I needed the interview.""
"You lied about being engaged to me?""
"I didn't think they'd check.""
Nia stared at him.
All the little moments suddenly rearranged themselves.
The questions about her father's job title. The insistence that she send him the photograph from their anniversary dinner. The time he had asked her to write a short description of his strengths for a professional profile.
She had thought he was proud to have her support.
He had been collecting pieces of her identity to make himself look better.
Her father called again.
Nia answered and put the phone to her ear.
"Dad, I saw the screenshot.""
Her father's voice was tight with anger.
"I never approved that statement. HR is reviewing the application. They asked whether you and Malik are engaged.""
Nia looked at Malik.
"No.""
"Are you sure?""
"Absolutely.""
"All right. I'll tell them. They may need a written statement from you.""
"I'll send one.""
Her father paused.
"Did he hurt you?""
Nia glanced at Brianna, who was crying silently beside the elevator.
"Not physically.""
"That's not the only kind of hurt, sweetheart.""
Nia pressed her lips together.
"I know.""
"I'm coming over.""
"No, Dad. Please don't. I need to handle this myself.""
He was silent for a moment.
Then he said, "You don't have to prove you're strong by doing everything alone.""
Nia's eyes filled again.
"I know that, too.""
When the call ended, she placed her phone in her pocket.
She looked at Malik.
"Your bags are leaving with you. So is every excuse you've brought into this apartment.""
He nodded, looking defeated.
But as Officer Brooks helped move the last suitcase toward the elevator, Malik suddenly spoke.
"There's one more thing you should know.""
Nia didn't move.
"What now?""
Malik looked at Brianna.
Then at the closed apartment door.
Then back at Nia.
"The night your father offered to recommend me, I didn't tell Brianna you were planning to leave me.""
Nia's expression hardened.
"Then what did you tell her?""
Malik swallowed.
"I told her something about your father that I shouldn't have known.""
Nia stared at him.
"What does my father have to do with this?""
Malik's voice dropped to a whisper.
"He didn't offer me that job because he believed in me, Nia.""
May you like
He looked at her, and for the first time, his shame seemed to be mixed with genuine terror.
"He offered it because he thought I could help him keep a secret from you.""
