Andre at the Door
Chapter 05 - Andre at the Door
Andre had not planned to return that night.
His flight from Chicago was booked for morning. He had meetings, a closing dinner, and a suite waiting for him in another city. But just after midnight, his driver Marcus left a voicemail that did not sound like Marcus.
“Sir, Ms. Hart went up to the hotel suite. Mrs. Brooks did not look comfortable when she was informed.”
Andre listened once, then again.
Marcus was careful. He never dramatized. If he said uncomfortable, he meant afraid.
Andre left without telling Evelyn.
During the flight, he replayed every conversation Maya had tried to have about Evelyn. He remembered how he asked for examples. He remembered Maya going quiet. He remembered telling himself he was being rational because rational men liked words better than instincts.
Now, standing in the open doorway, he saw the cost of that rationality.
Maya was kneeling on the carpet beside the bed, lavender dress gathered around her, tearful face lifted toward him. One hand shielded her belly. A dark spill-like stain marked the carpet near her knees. Evelyn stood over her in rust-orange satin and black, too composed for an innocent person surprised by distress.
Andre’s suitcase hung from his hand.
For one second, no one moved.
Then Evelyn spoke first.
“She became emotional.”
The sentence was smooth. Practiced. Designed to arrive before Maya could.
Andre looked at his wife.
Maya shook her head. “No.”
Evelyn’s eyes sharpened, but she kept control. She pointed toward the bedside table, toward the black phone beside the lamp.
“Look at it.”
Andre followed her finger.
The phone screen was dark. No readable text. No glow. But its placement was deliberate. Maya would never leave it there like that by accident.
May you like
His confusion narrowed into realization.
Then realization became anger.
