Chapter 7: The Partner
Andre drove home without remembering most of the trip.
Terrence Cole.
The name repeated in his head with every passing streetlight.
There had to be an explanation.
A group chat screenshot did not prove betrayal.
People shared messages.
Names could be saved incorrectly.
Vanessa could still be lying.
Andre reminded himself of all of that.
But the sick feeling in his stomach remained.
At home, he opened the messages Vanessa forwarded.
There were seventeen screenshots.
Andre sat alone at his kitchen island and examined each one.
Calvin Price’s messages were exactly as Vanessa had described.
You’re overthinking it.
Bennett’s ego is legendary.
Just press him a little.
If he responds badly, keep recording.
Then another:
Remember—the story isn’t what you say. The story is how he reacts.
Andre stared at that one for a long time.
There were also messages about Vanessa joining Meridian.
A salary figure.
A signing bonus.
Promises of influence.
Then came the screenshot of the group chat.
The image showed only part of the conversation.
CALVIN PRICE: If she does what we discussed, AB will do the rest himself.
BRENT HOLLOWAY: Assuming she can get close enough.
T. COLE: He’ll be grilling. He always grills.
Andre’s blood turned cold.
The timestamp was Thursday night.
One day before the barbecue.
He zoomed in.
T. COLE.
Not Terrence’s full name.
No phone number visible.
Nothing definitive.
But the sentence was personal.
He’ll be grilling.
He always grills.
Very few people knew Andre’s habits well enough to predict that.
Terrence did.
Andre did not call him immediately.
Instead, he called Maya.
She answered sleepily.
“Somebody better be dying.””
“I need you awake.””
She heard his tone.
“What happened?””
Andre explained.
By the time he finished, Maya was completely silent.
“That can’t be Terrence.””
“I know.””
“No. I mean literally. It can’t be.””
“Why?””
“Terrence planned half that barbecue.””
Andre frowned.
“So?””
“So why would he help set something up that could blow up at an event he helped organize?””
Andre leaned against the counter.
“I don’t know.””
“And he loves you.””
Andre shut his eyes.
“I know.””
Maya softened.
“You need facts.””
“I know.””
“Not anger.””
“I know.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because if I stop saying it, I might drive to his house.””
Maya sighed.
“Send me the screenshot.””
Andre did.
Thirty seconds later, she spoke.
“This isn’t enough.””
“I know.””
“But it’s enough to ask.””
Andre looked at the clock.
11:46 p.m.
“I’ll talk to him tomorrow.””
“No.””
Andre frowned.
“No?””
“Talk to him tonight.””
“Why?””
“Because if he’s involved, every hour gives him time to figure out what you know.””
Andre hated that she was right.
He called Terrence.
No answer.
Called again.
Nothing.
On the third attempt, Terrence finally picked up.
“Man, it’s midnight.””
“We need to talk.””
“Can it wait?””
“No.””
Something in Andre’s voice woke him fully.
“What happened?””
“Come to the office.””
“Now?””
“Now.””
Forty minutes later, the two men stood inside Bennett & Cole’s conference room.
The building was nearly dark.
Andre had not told Terrence why they were meeting.
Terrence entered wearing sweatpants, sneakers, and a hoodie.
“This better be serious.””
Andre placed the printed screenshot on the table.
Terrence looked at it.
His face changed.
Not dramatically.
But Andre had known him too long.
The pause was half a second too long.
Andre felt something inside him fracture.
“Who is T. Cole?””
Terrence looked up.
“Where’d you get this?””
“Answer me.””
Terrence sat down.
Andre remained standing.
“Who sent it?””
“Vanessa.””
Terrence’s jaw tightened.
“Of course.””
That answer was worse than denial.
Andre placed both palms on the table.
“Are you T. Cole?””
Terrence looked away.
Andre’s voice rose.
“Are you?””
“Yes.””
The word seemed to empty the room.
Andre stepped backward.
For several seconds, he could not speak.
Terrence stood.
“Dre—”
“Don’t call me that.””
Terrence froze.
Andre pointed toward the screenshot.
“What is this?””
“It’s not what you think.””
Andre laughed bitterly.
“Then make me smarter.””
Terrence ran both hands over his face.
“I was talking to Calvin.””
“I can see that.””
“But not about destroying you.””
“You told him where I’d be.””
Terrence shook his head.
“I didn’t know what he was planning.””
“You told him I’d be grilling.””
“He asked whether you were hosting.””
“Why?””
Terrence hesitated.
Andre stared.
“Why?””
“Because Meridian wanted information about the project.””
Andre's expression hardened.
“You gave a competitor information?””
“Nothing confidential.””
“That’s not the point.””
Terrence slammed one hand against the chair.
“I know!””
His voice echoed through the room.
Andre stepped back, stunned by the outburst.
Terrence breathed heavily.
Then his shoulders dropped.
“I screwed up.””
Andre waited.
Terrence sat again.
“Six months ago, I got in trouble.””
“What kind of trouble?””
Terrence looked at him.
“Money.””
Andre frowned.
“What money?””
“I invested in something with Brent Holloway.””
“Who is he?””
“Private lender. Real estate syndication guy.””
Andre’s stomach sank.
“How much?””
Terrence stared at the floor.
“Eight hundred thousand.””
Andre nearly laughed because the number seemed impossible.
“Whose money?””
“My money.””
Andre narrowed his eyes.
“All of it?””
Terrence did not answer.
Andre felt dread spreading through him.
“Terrence.””
“Most of it.””
Andre stepped forward.
“What does that mean?””
“I borrowed against my ownership stake.””
Andre went still.
“You did what?””
“I didn’t touch company accounts.””
“You pledged part of Bennett & Cole?””
“My shares.””
“Without telling me?””
Terrence stood again.
“I was going to fix it.””
“When?””
“The investment was supposed to close in ninety days.””
“And it didn’t.””
“No.””
Andre looked away.
His partner had hidden financial trouble from him for six months.
Terrence continued.
“Brent introduced me to Calvin. Calvin said he could help refinance the debt.””
“And what did he want?””
“Information.””
Andre turned slowly.
“What information?””
“At first, nothing major. Project timelines. Which consultants we liked. Whether you thought Meridian had a chance.””
“And you gave it to him.””
Terrence swallowed.
“Yes.””
Andre felt sick.
“Did you tell him about Carter Urban Strategies?””
“Yes.””
“Did you tell him Richard’s daughter might be at my barbecue?””
Terrence’s eyes closed.
“Yes.””
Andre walked toward the windows.
The Atlanta skyline glittered in the distance.
Everything he and Terrence had built suddenly seemed unstable.
“Did you know Calvin was using Vanessa?””
“No.””
Andre turned.
“I swear to you.””
“Your word isn't worth much tonight.””
Terrence flinched.
Andre pointed toward the screenshot.
“What does ‘If she does what we discussed’ mean?””
“I didn't know.””
“You stayed in the chat.””
“I thought they were trying to get her to flirt with you or bait you into saying something about the proposal.””
Andre stared at him.
“And that seemed acceptable?””
“No.””
“But you did nothing.””
Terrence lowered his eyes.
“I was scared.””
Andre laughed without humor.
“You were scared?””
“I could lose everything.””
“You should’ve called me.””
“And said what? That your business partner bet eight hundred grand on a deal he didn’t understand?””
“Yes!””
Andre’s voice exploded through the room.
“You should have called me!””
Terrence stared at him.
Andre pointed between them.
“That’s what fifteen years was supposed to mean!””
Neither man spoke.
Terrence’s eyes became wet.
“I was ashamed.””
Andre's anger did not disappear.
But underneath it came something worse.
Grief.
“You sold access to me because you were ashamed.””
Terrence shook his head.
“I never thought anybody would get hurt.””
“People always say that after they decide the risk belongs to somebody else.””
Terrence sank into the chair.
Andre stared at his oldest friend.
Then he asked quietly, “What else does Calvin have?””
Terrence looked up.
“Nothing.””
Andre knew immediately.
“Terrence.””
“Nothing that matters.””
“That’s not the same answer.””
Terrence looked toward the conference-room door.
Andre stepped between him and it.
“What else?””
Terrence swallowed.
“A recording.””
Andre’s heartbeat changed.
“Of what?””
May you like
Terrence closed his eyes.
“Of you.””
