Chapter 2 - The Secret He Never Asked Her to CarryElena did not confront Marcus.
She waited.
For three days, she watched him.
He worked.
He answered calls.
He prepared presentations.
He smiled when necessary.
He never mentioned Daniel.
Never once.
That annoyed her.
Not because she wanted to expose him.
Because she wanted him to trust her.
On Friday, she called him into her office.
“Sit.”
He sat.
She slid a file across the desk.
Marcus looked at it.
Then at her.
“You've been investigating me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you disappeared for four hours last Tuesday.”
“I had a personal matter.”
“You lied.”
“No.”
“You told me you were with legal.”
“I said I finished legal.”
“You omitted the rest.”
He looked down.
She pointed at the file.
“Daniel.”
His expression changed.
“Who told you?”
“No one.”
“You saw him.”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“How much do you know?”
“Enough to know you lied to me for years.”
Silence.
Finally, Marcus spoke.
“Daniel is my brother.”
“I know.”
“He didn't die.”
“I know.”
“He was sick.”
“What happened?”
“Kidney disease.”
Elena's anger softened.
“You hid him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my father abandoned him.”
She frowned.
“Your father?”
Marcus nodded.
“My father was an executive at Ward Meridian.”
Elena froze.
“My father knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel's treatment was expensive.”
Elena stared.
“How expensive?”
“More than I could afford.”
“And my father paid?”
“Yes.”
“Through the company?”
Marcus looked away.
“Partly.”
She stared at him.
“You stole money from Ward Meridian.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Your father created a private fund.”
“Why didn't I know?”
“Because he asked me to keep it confidential.”
Elena's heart stopped.
Her father had never mentioned it.
Marcus continued.
“Daniel needed a transplant.”
“Did he get one?”
“Yes.”
“Is he okay?”
“He's alive.”
Elena looked at him.
“Why did you never tell me?”
Marcus smiled sadly.
“Because it wasn't my story to tell.”
That answer hurt.
She looked at the file again.
“And the money?”
“I repay every cent.”
“You've been repaying it for years.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Your salary.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“My paychecks are automatically divided.”
He showed her the records.
He had sent most of his annual bonuses into the medical fund.
Elena stared.
“You barely keep anything.”
“I don't need much.”
“You've been taking care of him alone.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He's my brother.”
The simplicity of the answer destroyed her anger.
She leaned back.
“I'm sorry.”
Marcus looked surprised.
“For what?”
“For assuming the worst.”
He smiled.
“You had reason.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
There was a pause.
Then Elena asked,
“Why does my father care about Daniel?”
Marcus hesitated.
“He didn't.”
“What?”
“He cared about me.”
She frowned.
“My father trusted you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked at her.
“Because he knew what you would need.”
Her heart beat faster.
“What does that mean?”
“He said one day you would become CEO.”
“I know.”
“He said you would hate asking for help.”
She smiled faintly.
“That sounds like him.”
“He told me to stay.”
She stared.
“Stay?”
“Beside you.”
“For how long?”
“As long as you needed me.”
Silence.
Elena looked down.
“That's why you became my assistant.”
“Yes.”
“Not because of the job.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Marcus answered quietly.
“Because your father asked me to protect you.”
Elena's eyes filled.
“You've been protecting me for eight years.”
“Yes.”
“From what?”
Marcus hesitated.
“From the people who wanted the company.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he stood.
“Go home.”
She looked at him.
“Why are you leaving?”
“Because you're tired.”
“Marcus.”
“Yes?”
She whispered,
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
Then he left.
Elena watched the door close.
She didn't cry.
Not then.
She did later.
At 1:47 a.m.
Alone.
The next day, Marcus didn't come to work.
Neither did Elena.
Because that morning, someone had broken into his apartment.
Nothing was stolen.
Except one thing.
The photograph of Daniel.
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And the note left behind said:
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO TELL HER.
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