“No.”
Simone immediately said:
“See?”
Adrian held up one hand.
“Not helping.”
He looked at Malik.
“Why do you have my signature sample?”
Malik frowned.
“I told her not to send that.”
Simone turned.
“What?”
Adrian watched.
Malik looked at her.
“I said deed and tax docs.”
“No.”
“You sent the signature sheet later.”
“You asked for proof Adrian would qualify.”
“For proof of income.”
Simone stared.
Malik continued:
“I deleted the signature page.”
Adrian pointed toward the folder.
“It’s printed.”
Malik looked.
His expression changed.
“That came from Randall.”
“Who?”
“My cousin’s broker.”
“Name.”
“Randall Pierce.”
Finally.
“What did Randall say?”
Malik rubbed his jaw.
“That if both spouses were on title, both would need to sign before any home-equity facility funded.”
Adrian nodded.
“So why prepare it?”
“Because Simone said you were going to agree after Dallas.”
Adrian looked toward his wife.
She closed her eyes.
“What exactly did she tell you?”
Malik hesitated.
Simone said:
“Don’t.”
Adrian laughed once.
“This is incredible.”
Malik looked at her.
“I'm not lying for you.”
Simone’s face hardened.
“No one asked you to.”
“You did about the marriage.”
Adrian felt the room shift.
“Explain.”
Malik looked toward him.
“She told me you already knew about us.”
Adrian went still.
Simone whispered:
“I told him later.”
“When?”
Malik answered.
“January.”
Adrian laughed.
“We met January?”
“No.”
Malik shook his head.
“She told me you two had agreed to separate after the school year.”
Adrian looked at Simone.
Her face collapsed.
“You said that?”
“I thought we would.”
“You thought.”
“Yes.”
“You never told me.”
“I tried.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“We are not doing that again.”
Malik continued:
“She said the house would probably be sold.”
Adrian stared.
“She said her share could fund the studio.”
“Simone.”
She covered her face.
Adrian looked back at Malik.
“What about the sixty-two thousand?”
“I thought it was hers.”
“It is partly.”
Adrian answered before anger could distort law.
“Joint account.”
Malik nodded.
“I didn’t know that.”
“You thought she had one hundred twenty-five thousand separately?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Malik looked ashamed.
“Because I wanted the money.”
There.
A clean answer.
Adrian respected it more than excuses.
Malik continued:
“I had my own reasons to believe what sounded good.”
Simone stared at him.
“You told me we were partners.”
“We were.”
“Were?”
Malik looked toward her.
“You told me your husband knew about us.”
“I said he knew we were over.”
“Same thing to me.”
“No.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“Welcome.”
Neither looked at him.