Marcus Speaks
Chapter 10 - Marcus Speaks
Marcus came upstairs at dawn.
He stood just inside the suite doorway, driver’s cap in both hands, face lined with worry. He had worked for Andre for six years and had never before looked uncomfortable in a luxury room.
“Mrs. Brooks,” he said, “I owe you an apology.”
Maya sat on the sofa wrapped in the hotel blanket. Andre stood near the marble table, arms folded, silent.
Marcus took a breath. “Ms. Hart often asked about your movements when Mr. Brooks traveled. She framed it as security. I thought it was strange, but she had authority in so many areas that I didn’t challenge it.”
Maya’s stomach tightened.
Andre’s expression darkened. “She asked staff to report on my wife?”
“Yes, sir. Not openly. Not in writing if she could avoid it. But people understood she wanted updates.”
Maya closed her eyes.
That explained the feeling. The hotel staff who knew too much. The assistant who mentioned appointments she never told him. Evelyn appearing after private disagreements.
Marcus looked at Maya. “Last night, when I saw she was heading upstairs, Mrs. Brooks looked… trapped. I should have stopped it. I called Mr. Brooks instead. Late, but I called.”
Maya opened her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said.
Marcus shook his head. “It should have been sooner.”
“Yes,” Maya said. “But you still called.”
Andre looked at his driver with a gratitude that did not erase accountability.
A household can become dangerous through one manipulative person. But it becomes possible because many people learn to be quiet around discomfort.
Marcus had broken that quiet.
May you like
Late was not perfect.
Late was still better than never.
