Chapter 8: The Woman Who Came Back Smiling
Renée arrived at 9:12 the following morning.
Curtis knew because he was watching the front security camera.
A black SUV pulled into the driveway.
Renée stepped out wearing oversized sunglasses and carrying a designer handbag. Madison and Tyler climbed out behind her.
She looked relaxed.
Almost cheerful.
She didn't look like someone whose financial arrangements were being investigated.
She looked like a woman returning from a successful vacation.
Curtis stood in the living room.
Margaret was seated at the dining table with a folder of documents. Elaine was upstairs with Isaiah.
The doorbell rang.
Curtis opened the door.
Renée smiled.
“Good morning, sweetheart.””
Curtis didn't return the greeting.
She looked past him.
“Where's Isaiah?””
“Upstairs.””
“Tell him to come down. We need to talk.””
“He isn't coming down.””
Renée removed her sunglasses.
“Excuse me?””
“He's not ready to see you.””
She gave a short laugh.
“Curtis, don't be ridiculous. He's my stepson.””
“Then you should have treated him like family.””
Her smile disappeared.
Renée looked over his shoulder and noticed Margaret at the dining table.
“Who's she?””
“My attorney.””
Renée stared at him.
“Your attorney?””
“Yes.””
She laughed again, but this time the sound was strained.
“Are you serious?””
Curtis stepped aside.
“Come in. We need to discuss several things.””
Renée entered.
Madison and Tyler followed, dragging their suitcases.
“Mom, can we go upstairs?”” Madison asked.
“Not yet.””
Renée placed her handbag on the sofa.
Then she looked at Curtis.
“Where are my things?””
“Still in the house.””
“Good. Because I don't appreciate being treated like a stranger.””
Curtis remained standing.
“Sit down.””
Renée looked at Margaret.
Then she sat.
Margaret introduced herself.
Renée didn't offer a greeting.
Instead, she crossed her legs and folded her hands.
“Whatever this is about, I hope we can resolve it quickly. I'm exhausted.””
Curtis placed a printed message on the table.
“Did you send this to Isaiah?””
Renée glanced at it.
Her expression barely changed.
“Which one?””
“The message threatening to blame him for damaged inventory.””
She looked up.
“That's not what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
Renée sighed.
“Isaiah was careless. I was trying to make him understand that actions have consequences.””
Curtis placed another document on the table.
“What about this?””
She looked down.
It was the labor authorization form.
Renée leaned back.
“He wanted to help.””
“He was fifteen.””
“He's old enough to learn responsibility.””
“Was he old enough to lift boxes heavier than he could carry?””
Renée rolled her eyes.
“Oh, please. You're making this sound like child abuse. He packed a few orders. That's all.””
Curtis's voice became colder.
“Hundreds of orders.””
“He was helping the family business.””
“Without pay?””
“I was arranging compensation.””
“Into your personal account?””
Renée looked at Margaret.
Then back at Curtis.
“You don't understand how the accounting system works.””
Margaret opened her folder.
“We've reviewed the transaction records. Several payments were made using Curtis's digital authorization without his knowledge.””
Renée's face tightened.
“That's a business matter.””
“Correct,” Margaret replied.
“And it's one we'll be addressing separately.””
Renée turned toward Curtis.
“Why are you doing this?””
Curtis stared at her.
“Because I found my son carrying boxes with bleeding hands.””
Renée looked away.
For the first time, she seemed uncomfortable.
Then she changed tactics.
“Isaiah has been difficult lately. He's been disrespectful. I was trying to help you by keeping him occupied.””
Curtis shook his head.
“You told him I would blame him if the company lost money.””
“I never said that.””
“He showed me the messages.””
Renée's expression changed.
“What messages?””
Curtis didn't answer.
She looked toward the staircase.
“Where is he?””
“Upstairs.””
“I want to speak to him.””
“No.””
Renée stood.
“I'm his stepmother.””
“And I'm his father.””
Margaret closed her folder.
“Renée, I recommend you remain seated.””
Renée ignored her.
She walked toward the staircase.
Curtis stepped in front of her.
“Don't.””
Her face flushed.
“Move.””
“No.””
“Curtis, you're embarrassing yourself.””
He looked at her.
“You've had my son working in a warehouse while you took your children to Florida.””
Renée's eyes narrowed.
“They're my children too.””
“And Isaiah is mine.””
“He's not a child anymore. He needs to learn how the world works.””
Curtis stared at her.
“Then why didn't Madison and Tyler spend their vacation packing orders?””
Renée's mouth opened.
No answer came.
Behind them, Tyler shifted uncomfortably.
Madison looked down at her phone.
Renée finally said, “Because they had other things to do.””
Curtis nodded slowly.
“Exactly.””
She turned toward Margaret.
“I don't have to listen to this.””
Margaret slid a document across the table.
“Then perhaps you'll listen to this. The company has initiated an independent review of the transactions and ownership filings. We have also preserved the warehouse recordings.””
Renée looked at the paper.
“What recordings?””
Curtis watched her face.
“The ones from Tuesday night.””
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the document.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she looked directly at Curtis.
“You had no right to access those.””
Curtis almost laughed.
“My company. My security system.””
“You can't use private recordings against me.””
Margaret spoke calmly.
“That question will be handled through the appropriate legal process.””
Renée turned away.
“Daniel told me you wouldn't understand.””
Curtis went still.
“What did Daniel tell you?””
She realized what she'd said.
Her eyes moved toward Margaret.
“Nothing.””
Curtis stepped closer.
“Renée, what did Daniel tell you?””
She grabbed her handbag.
“I'm leaving.””
“You just got home.””
“I need to speak to my lawyer.””
“Fine.””
She walked toward the door.
But before she reached it, her phone rang.
Daniel's name appeared on the screen.
Curtis saw it.
So did Margaret.
Renée answered.
“What?””
Daniel's voice came through loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.
“Are you at the house?””
“Yes.””
“Did you get him to sign?””
Renée looked at Curtis.
“No.””
Daniel swore.
“Then get him to sign the release. We don't have time.””
Renée turned away.
“Daniel, I'm dealing with it.””
“Listen to me. If he doesn't sign today, the bank will freeze the restructuring.””
Margaret immediately began taking notes.
Renée lowered her voice.
“I'm not discussing this here.””
Daniel continued.
“What about the boy?””
Renée glanced at the staircase.
“I'm handling him.””
Curtis reached for the phone.
“Daniel.””
There was silence.
Then Daniel said, “Curtis.””
“Good morning.””
Daniel sounded suddenly cautious.
“I didn't know you were there.””
“Apparently, you didn't know I was investigating either.””
Renée tried to take the phone back.
Curtis held it away.
“Daniel, I have a question.””
“What?””
“Why did you submit my resignation?””
Another silence.
Then Daniel replied, “We can discuss that privately.””
“No. We can discuss it with Margaret.””
The call disconnected.
Renée stared at Curtis.
“You've destroyed everything.””
Curtis placed the phone on the table.
“No, Renée. I found out what you were doing.””
She shook her head.
“You have no idea what I've sacrificed for this family.””
Curtis looked at her.
“Tell me what you've sacrificed for Isaiah.””
She didn't answer.
At that moment, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Isaiah appeared beside Elaine.
He was holding his phone.
Renée turned immediately.
“There you are.””
Isaiah stopped.
“Hi.””
Renée approached him.
“Come here.””
He looked at Curtis.
His father gave a small shake of his head.
Isaiah stayed where he was.
Renée's face hardened.
“Don't be dramatic. We're going to talk.””
“I don't want to.””
“You don't get to decide that.””
Curtis stepped between them.
“He does get to decide whether he wants to speak with you right now.””
Renée stared at him.
Then she looked at Isaiah.
“You've told him everything, haven't you?””
Isaiah's hands began to tremble.
Curtis turned toward his son.
“Go upstairs with Aunt Elaine.””
Isaiah hesitated.
Then he followed her.
Renée watched him disappear.
When the staircase became empty, she leaned toward Curtis.
“You think you've won?””
Curtis didn't respond.
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded document.
“You should read this before you start threatening people.””
She threw it onto the table.
Margaret picked it up.
Her expression changed immediately.
“Curtis.””
“What?””
Margaret turned the document around.
It was a copy of a court petition.
The title read:
*EMERGENCY APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIP AND RELOCATION.*
Curtis read the first paragraph.
Renée was alleging that he had become emotionally unstable, that his business responsibilities were interfering with his parenting, and that Isaiah was being exposed to an unsafe environment.
The petition requested permission for her to temporarily relocate Isaiah to Florida.
Curtis looked up.
May you like
Renée was smiling again.
“Now,” she said quietly, “perhaps you'll understand why you should have left things alone.””
