Chapter 5: The Father Who Needed Her Money
Darius Cole was sitting in a luxury restaurant when his phone began vibrating repeatedly.
He ignored the first call.
Then the second.
By the fourth, he slammed his fork onto the table.
"Who keeps calling me?""
His business associate, Leonard Price, looked up.
"Maybe you should answer.""
Darius checked the screen.
Kendra.
He declined the call.
Leonard raised an eyebrow.
"Your daughter?""
"Family drama.""
"You said she was eighteen.""
"She is.""
"Then she's old enough to understand how things work.""
Darius shot him a look.
"Not today, Leonard.""
Leonard leaned back.
"You know, I've been thinking about the college situation.""
"What about it?""
"Did you actually get access to that education account?""
Darius lowered his voice.
"Not yet.""
"Then why did you tell me the transfer was coming?""
"Because I thought it would.""
Leonard laughed without humor.
"You told me the money was guaranteed.""
"It is.""
"From where?""
Darius didn't answer.
Leonard tapped the table.
"Listen carefully. I have a payment due on Friday. You told me your daughter had access to a substantial education fund, and you said you could arrange financing against it.""
Darius looked around the restaurant.
"Keep your voice down.""
"I'm not the one who made promises.""
Darius leaned forward.
"I'll handle it.""
Leonard stared at him.
"You've been saying that for months.""
Darius's jaw tightened.
"Just give me until Monday.""
"Monday?""
"Yes.""
Leonard stood and picked up his jacket.
"You have until Friday. After that, I'm done protecting you.""
He walked away.
Darius remained seated.
He looked at his phone.
There were now seven missed calls from Kendra.
He opened his messages.
The latest read:
Dad, I need you to tell me the truth. Did you submit those documents to my university?
Darius stared at the message.
Then he typed:
Your mother is putting things in your head. Don't let Marcus turn you against me.
He sent it.
A moment later, Kendra replied.
Did you promise me money you didn't have?
Darius locked his phone.
He had no intention of answering that question.
At Westbridge University, Kendra sat beside Marcus in Angela's office.
Her phone was resting on the table.
She had read Darius's message three times.
Each time, the words seemed uglier.
"He's blaming Mom," she whispered.
Marcus nodded.
"That's easier than answering you.""
Kendra looked at him.
"How can he do this?""
Marcus didn't respond immediately.
Angela pulled another document from the folder.
"Miss Williams, there is something else we discovered during the review.""
Kendra braced herself.
"What?""
"Your biological father contacted the university several weeks before graduation.""
"Why?""
"He asked whether a parent could obtain information about a student's private educational funding arrangement.""
Kendra frowned.
"But I'm eighteen.""
"Exactly. We informed him that your authorization would be required.""
Marcus looked at the document.
"Was that before he started calling her regularly?""
Angela checked the date.
"About four months ago.""
Kendra felt cold.
Four months.
That was when Darius had suddenly started calling every evening.
When he began asking about college.
When he started telling her how proud he was.
When he promised to take care of everything.
She looked at Marcus.
"Do you think he only came back because he knew about your money?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't want to believe that.""
Angela placed another sheet on the table.
"There's a reason we became concerned. Mr. Cole also contacted a third-party education financing company.""
Kendra looked at her.
"What company?""
"Northbridge Student Funding.""
Marcus's expression changed.
"Northbridge?""
"You know them?"" Angela asked.
"I've heard about them. They offer private education loans.""
Angela nodded.
"According to the documents we received, Mr. Cole requested information about using a family member's educational sponsorship as supporting collateral.""
Kendra looked confused.
"What does that mean?""
Marcus explained.
"He may have been trying to use the existence of your college fund to secure a loan.""
"But why?""
Angela answered.
"We don't know the exact purpose. However, the application lists a business debt as the intended use of the funds.""
Kendra stared at the paper.
Her father's company.
His business debt.
Her education fund.
Suddenly, the pieces began falling into place.
Darius hadn't returned because he wanted to pay for college.
He had returned because he believed there was money he could access.
And he had used the promise of paying her housing deposit to make himself look generous.
Kendra covered her mouth.
"Did he ever intend to pay the deposit?""
Marcus finally spoke.
"I don't know.""
"But he told everyone he was going to.""
"I know.""
"He even told his friends.""
Marcus looked at her.
"Sometimes people make promises because they want the credit before they have to do the work.""
Kendra lowered her head.
She thought about the graduation photograph.
The bouquet.
The expensive suit.
The loud announcement.
That's my girl.
He had wanted the appearance of being a father.
Marcus had wanted the responsibility.
She had chosen the appearance.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Can I ask you something?""
Marcus nodded.
"Anything.""
"How much did you sacrifice for that money?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"Kendra...""
"Please.""
He exhaled.
"I worked overtime. I stopped taking vacations. I sold the old fishing boat. I sold some land my father left me.""
"All of it?""
"Most of it.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want you to feel like you owed me.""
She began crying again.
Marcus reached for his coffee.
"I wanted you to have choices. That's all.""
Kendra stared at him.
"Mom told me you were saving for retirement.""
"I still have some savings.""
"But you sold your land.""
"That land wasn't going to send you to college.""
She shook her head.
"You shouldn't have had to do that.""
Marcus gave her a gentle look.
"You're my daughter.""
Kendra lowered her face into her hands.
This time, she didn't try to hide her tears.
That afternoon, Denise arrived at the university.
She walked straight into Angela's office carrying a large handbag and an expression that made Marcus stand immediately.
"Where is she?""
Kendra stood.
"Mom.""
Denise crossed the room and hugged her tightly.
"Are you okay?""
Kendra nodded against her shoulder.
"I'm sorry.""
Denise pulled back.
"Don't apologize to me. Just tell me what happened.""
Kendra explained everything.
The forms.
The account.
The false financial declaration.
The possible attempt to use her education funding to secure a business loan.
Denise listened without interrupting.
When Kendra finished, Denise slowly turned toward Marcus.
"You knew he was capable of something like this?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I suspected he was irresponsible. I didn't know he would go this far.""
Denise placed her handbag on the table.
"There's something I need to tell you both.""
Kendra looked at her.
"What?""
Denise opened her handbag and removed an old brown envelope.
"I found this last night.""
She placed it in front of Marcus.
He frowned.
"What's that?""
"Something Darius sent me three months ago.""
Marcus opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
The handwriting was unmistakably Darius's.
Marcus read the first paragraph.
Then his expression changed.
Denise looked at Kendra.
"He asked me for money.""
Kendra blinked.
"What?""
"Not for your education. For his business.""
"How much?""
"Twenty thousand dollars.""
Kendra looked stunned.
"Did you give it to him?""
Denise shook her head.
"Of course not.""
Marcus continued reading.
The letter explained that Darius's business was struggling. He claimed he needed a short-term loan and promised to repay Denise within sixty days.
But the final paragraph was what made Marcus stop reading.
It said:
I know Marcus has money put aside for Kendra. He's always been too proud to let me contribute, but perhaps we can find a way to use those funds temporarily. It would be better for Kendra to have both her parents working together.
Marcus slowly lowered the letter.
Denise's voice trembled.
"He knew about your savings.""
Kendra stared at the paper.
"How?""
Denise looked at Marcus.
"Because someone told him.""
Marcus went still.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he looked at Denise.
"Who knew about the account?""
Denise began counting on her fingers.
"Me. You. Angela. And...""
She stopped.
Marcus finished the sentence.
"Kendra.""
Kendra looked up.
"I never told him.""
Denise shook her head.
"I'm not accusing you.""
Marcus looked toward the window.
Then something occurred to him.
A memory from four months earlier.
Darius had called him.
It was the first time in years.
He had congratulated him on Kendra's college acceptance and asked whether they could meet.
Marcus had refused.
During that conversation, Darius had mentioned that Kendra deserved a college education without financial stress.
Marcus had thought it was a harmless comment.
Now he wondered how much Darius already knew.
Denise picked up the letter.
"There's something else.""
She turned it over.
On the back was a handwritten note.
It was addressed to a woman named Patricia Cole.
Darius's sister.
The note contained one sentence.
If Denise refuses, I'll have to get the information directly from Kendra.
Kendra stared at it.
"His sister?""
Denise nodded.
"Patricia called me last night.""
"What did she say?""
Denise hesitated.
"She said Darius had been asking questions about your college account for months.""
Kendra felt her stomach twist.
"Why didn't she tell us?""
"She said she was afraid of getting involved.""
Marcus stood.
"Did she say anything else?""
Denise looked at him.
"Yes.""
Her voice dropped.
"She said Darius isn't the only person who knows about the money.""
At that exact moment, Marcus's phone rang.
The caller ID displayed a number he didn't recognize.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke urgently.
"Mr. Williams? My name is Patricia Cole. I'm Darius's sister.""
Marcus looked at Denise.
"Yes?""
"I need to meet with you.""
"About what?""
"About the money.""
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
"What money?""
Patricia took a shaky breath.
"The forty-two thousand dollars your daughter thinks is safe.""
Marcus frowned.
"What about it?""
May you like
Patricia whispered:
"Darius has already promised that money to someone else.""
