Chapter 9 - MARLENE
Marlene Collins asked to speak to me face-to-face after Dominic was served with the expanded protective order and civil complaint. I almost said no. Then agreed with Sarah present.
Marlene wore no designer armor. Jeans. Black sweater.
She looked tired. First sentence: “I’m sorry.” Then: “I knew he was married.”
Good. No fake innocence. Then: “He told me you were separated in everything but paperwork.”
Classic. Did she verify? No.
Then: “I wanted to believe him.” Also classic. Then business.
Carter Development was struggling. Dominic recruited Marlene for design expertise and investor contacts. Thirty percent equity in exchange for work and one future capital commitment.
Not absurd. Then Richmond townhouse. Planned as showcase project and short-term executive residence.
Marlene moved in to oversee renovation. Then stayed. Affair began after.
That complicated sequence. The house was not bought solely for mistress. Then Dominic said company would transfer it to her as equity distribution eventually.
No formal documents. Then guarantee. Marlene brokered lender through colleague.
Lender required stronger guarantor. Dominic said Elena had agreed to guarantee because marriage shared risk. Marlene saw electronic signature.
She believed. Should she have contacted me? Not her legal duty necessarily.
Ethically maybe. Then HELOC money. She knew Robert lent company ninety-five thousand.
Did she know source was HELOC? “No.” Then MC Holdings forty thousand.
That account was Marlene Collins Holdings. Payment for design work on three projects. Real invoices.
Fair value maybe around thirty-two thousand. Not secret lover fund. Good.
Then affair. Nine months. Then Dominic’s violence.
Did she know? “No.” Did she ever see temper?
“Yes.” He punched a wall once. Then apologized.
She thought stress. Then I asked: “Did he tell you about my ICU?” “He said you fell.”
There. Then: “Did he say why I stopped refinance?” “He said you were trying to punish your parents because they supported him.”
Again. Narrative. Then Marlene gave us her phone.
Texts. One changed case. MARLENE: Elena should sign guarantee herself. I don’t want trouble.
DOMINIC: She already did. MARLENE: Did you speak to her? DOMINIC: I’m her husband. I know what she agrees to.
There. Not “she said yes.” “I know what she agrees to.”
That line showed entitlement. Then another: MARLENE: Your wife scares me a little. DOMINIC: Why?
MARLENE: She seems smarter than you make her sound. I almost laughed. Then: DOMINIC: She’s smart at work. At home she needs direction.
There. Marlene apologized again. Then: “I’m leaving the company.”
She did. Sold equity back at independent valuation minus disputed obligations. Ended affair.
No redemption prize. Then Richmond townhouse. Company sold it eventually.
Proceeds repaid lender. Any shortfall allocated under litigation. Then Marlene said one last thing.
“Dominic keeps a folder called FAMILY LEVERAGE.” My stomach turned. Where?
Cloud drive. She had seen while working. What was inside?
She did not open all. But file names included: ROBERT HOUSE. ELENA CREDIT.
MARGARET INSURANCE. And one I did not expect. ELENA HOSPITAL.
May you like
Created four months before I was injured. Sarah and I looked at each other. That file could mean insurance benefits.
Medical costs. Or something much worse. We needed to know before anyone invented the answer.
