Later that afternoon, I found myself in Marcus’s office. After seeing how agitated he had been lately, I knew something was up.
I had to find out if my dad would be affected by whatever Marcus was planning.
My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I stared at his desk, the perfectly aligned papers, and the expensive pens. He never let me in here unless he was home. But I couldn’t wait anymore. I needed answers.
I needed to know what he was planning. My life already felt like it was in danger; I could feel it in my bones. Once the business with my dad was finalized, Marcus might not keep me alive.
My hands trembled as I flipped through his planner, scanning each neatly written entry: business trips, meetings, dinners. But there was nothing useful. All I saw was more evidence of his betrayal—
The numerous dates he had lined up with Layla and a hotel key card.
“That bastard,” I muttered through gritted teeth, my hand clenching one of the papers so tightly it crumpled.
I moved to the drawer on the left, tugging it open. Inside, I found folders stacked neatly. My fingers hovered over them, but one stood out—a slim black folder with Layla’s name scrawled across the tab. My chest tightened as I opened it.
There it was: a deed to an apartment. Her name was on it, bold and undeniable. I flipped through the pages, and my stomach dropped when I saw the payment history—taken from our joint account.
Tears stung my eyes, but the final blow came when a small note slipped out from between the pages. I picked it up with shaking hands.
“Our future is just beginning. Forget Sasha. It’s us against the world.”
The bile rose in my throat as I dropped the papers on the desk. I staggered back, gripping the edge of a chair for support. How had I been so blind? How long had this been going on?
My breathing grew ragged as the walls of the office seemed to close in around me. I fumbled for my phone, dialing Claire’s number with trembling fingers.
“Hello?” Claire’s familiar voice answered.
“It’s me,” I croaked, my voice breaking.
“Sasha? What’s wrong?”
“I can’t stay here, Claire. I… I need to leave,” I stuttered, my words barely making sense.
Her voice immediately filled with concern. “My God, Sasha, what’s going on? You sound tense. Did something happen?”
My hands trembled, and my lips quivered as I tried to hold back a sob.
“It’s Ma... Marcus,” I whispered shakily, my throat tightening.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, but the words evaporated before I could say them.
“It’s alright. Just pack your bags and come over to my place. We can figure things out together, okay?” Claire said softly.
Tears streamed down my face as I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me.
“Thank you. I just… I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re doing the right thing,” Claire said gently. “You deserve better than this. Just get out of there. Don’t wait.”
I hung up, feeling a small flicker of hope building in my heart. I had to escape this nightmare. First, I needed to leave. Then, I’d figure out what to do next.
I began gathering the papers on Marcus’s desk, determined to leave no trace of my search. I slid the drawer shut, keeping everything in place.
“What are you doing in here, Sasha?” Marcus’s voice boomed suddenly.
I froze, my heart stopping at the sound of his voice. Slowly, I turned to face him. He stood in the doorway, his expression dark and unreadable.
“I… I was just—”
His eyes scanned my face and appearance, narrowing as they locked onto mine. A cold dread settled in my chest.
“Have you been going through my things?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
My pulse quickened as I took a step back. “Marcus, I can explain—”
“No,” he interrupted sharply. “You don’t get to explain. Don’t you trust me?”
Of course, I didn’t trust him, but saying that aloud wasn’t wise, especially with the way his eyes darkened with an anger I’d never seen before.
Marcus stepped closer, and I instinctively backed into the desk, trapped. The air felt suffocating.
“So, tell me, Sasha. What exactly were you looking for?”
I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the desk as I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“I only came to see if you were hungry. I made your favorite sandwich,” I said, my voice as steady as I could make it. Now, more than ever, I knew Marcus was a dangerous man.
If he knew I was aware of his plans, I couldn’t predict what he might do.
“Are you sure?”
“Is there another reason why I would come here?” I leaned in closer, trying to sound casual. “Are you hiding something from me?”
Marcus’s smile was slow and calculated as he moved away from me.
“Of course not, babe.”
