Chapter 19 - Denise’s Building
The company that owned Denise’s apartment complex was called Brookstone Residential Holdings.
LuxeCircle had transferred $146,000 to it over eight months.
At first Tiana thought it meant Darius owned the building.
He did not.
The truth was stranger.
Brookstone had been raising money for renovations.
LuxeCircle appeared to have placed investor funds into a legitimate real-estate note.
That meant at least some investor money had gone where Darius claimed.
But Karen warned them not to mistake legitimacy in one transaction for legitimacy everywhere.
“The question is whether investors were told the truth about how funds were used,” she explained.
Tiana sat beside Marcus.
They had begun attending meetings together again, though neither had defined what they were.
“So this might not be fraud?” Tiana asked.
“It may be fraud, securities violations, breach of contract, business failure, or some combination.”
Marcus nodded.
“Follow the money.”
“Exactly.”
Karen showed them payment records.
One caught Tiana’s attention.
A consulting fee.
Pierce Strategy Group — $38,500.
Chanel’s last name.
“That’s hers,” Tiana said.
Karen nodded.
“Likely.”
“For what?”
“Investor acquisition consulting.”
Tiana stared.
“She got paid to recruit us.”
“Yes.”
Thirty-eight thousand dollars.
Chanel had described herself as an investor losing money alongside everyone else.
In reality, she had received substantial fees.
Tiana’s sadness hardened into clarity.
“She knew.”
Karen remained cautious.
“She knew she was compensated for recruitment.”
“That’s enough for me.”
“Personally, perhaps.”
The attorney closed the folder.
“Legally, we continue gathering evidence.”
Marcus looked at Tiana.
She appreciated that he did not tell her how to feel.
After the meeting, they drove separately to Denise’s building.
Tiana wanted to understand the connection.
The property manager confirmed renovations had been financed partly through private notes.
Nothing appeared unusual.
Outside, Denise joined them.
“Why are both of you here?”
Tiana explained.
Denise looked alarmed.
“Is my apartment in danger?”
“No,” Marcus said. “Nothing suggests that.”
Denise visibly relaxed.
Then she looked at him awkwardly.
“I’m glad you came.”
Marcus nodded.
“Tiana told me you knew Dad.”
Denise smiled faintly.
“I did.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I didn’t realize it mattered.”
Marcus looked toward the parking lot.
“He helped you financially?”
“Not with money.”
“Counseling.”
“Yes.”
Denise studied him.
“You look like him when you’re worried.”
Marcus laughed quietly.
“He worried a lot.”
“He did.”
They sat on a bench outside the building.
For twenty minutes Denise told Marcus things about Calvin that he had forgotten.
How Calvin carried a small notebook recording every expense.
How he brought lunch from home even when coworkers mocked him.
How he once refused to buy a new jacket because the old one still worked.
Marcus smiled.
“That sounds like him.”
Denise’s expression became serious.
“He also drove people crazy.”
Marcus looked at her.
“He questioned everything.”
“Yes.”
“He made your mother show receipts.”
Marcus frowned.
“What?”
“After the financial problems.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“She hated it.”
Denise looked toward Tiana.
“Fear makes controlling behavior look responsible.”
Both Marcus and Tiana went quiet.
Denise continued.
“Your father helped me because he recognized what debt shame had done to me. But he struggled with his own fear.”
Marcus stared at the ground.
“He never told me that.”
“Parents usually tell children the lesson after they survive it.”
Denise smiled sadly.
“Not the damage they caused while learning.”
Tiana reached for Marcus’s hand.
She did it without thinking.
He looked down.
Neither pulled away.
Denise noticed but said nothing.
That evening, Marcus walked Tiana back to Calvin’s sedan.
“I talked to my mom,” he said.
“About the receipts?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She confirmed it.”
Tiana waited.
“Dad monitored everything for years.”
“Did she forgive him?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Marcus smiled faintly.
“She said forgiveness was easier after he stopped calling control protection.”
Tiana absorbed that.
Marcus leaned against the car.
“I owe you an apology.”
“You’ve apologized.”
“Not for the right thing.”
He looked at her.
“The test wasn’t just unfair.”
Tiana remained still.
“It was controlling.”
She had wanted him to understand that.
Now hearing him say it hurt differently.
“I created a situation where I knew the truth and you didn’t.”
“Yes.”
“I decided your reaction would determine whether you deserved something.”
“Yes.”
“That was wrong.”
Tiana’s eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
Marcus continued.
“It doesn’t erase what happened.”
“I know.”
“I’m still not ready to go back.”
“I know.”
“But I needed to say it.”
She nodded.
Marcus looked toward the old sedan.
“Dad probably would’ve hated what I did with his car.”
“Maybe.”
Then Tiana smiled.
“He also might’ve said your bow was too expensive.”
Marcus laughed.
“It was thirty-two dollars.”
“Thirty-two?”
“It was huge.”
“You could’ve gotten one for twelve.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Who are you?”
Tiana laughed.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from Karen.
One sentence.
Investigators located Darius.
Tiana’s smile disappeared.
A second message arrived.
He is cooperating through counsel and claims Chanel designed the investor recruitment strategy.
Marcus read over her shoulder.
The betrayal shifted again.
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Now Chanel was no longer merely standing beside the scheme.
Darius was placing her at its center.
