Chapter 13 - Samantha’s Price
Brandon could not reach me.
So he targeted Samantha.
Not physically.
Professionally.
She worked at an accounting consultancy.
An anonymous complaint accused her of misusing client systems to freeze Cole Urban Development accounts.
False.
She had no access.
The bank acted independently.
Her firm conducted review.
She was cleared.
But the process cost her a promotion that quarter because leadership paused advancement during investigation.
She told me casually over dinner.
I put my fork down.
“You lost promotion because of me.”
“No.”
“Because of Brandon.”
“Yes.”
“Which happened because you helped me.”
“Yes.”
“So because of me.”
“No.”
“Samantha.”
She leaned forward.
“This is the same disease.”
“What?”
“Everything bad gets routed back to you as responsibility.”
I started crying.
“I hate that you paid.”
“I’m angry too.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want you running back to him to make things stop.”
That hurt because she knew I might have.
Four months earlier, yes.
Now?
“No.”
“I know now.”
“What did firm do?”
“They cleared me. Promotion reconsidered next cycle.”
“Can you sue?”
She laughed.
“Not every disappointment becomes litigation.”
Fair.
Then:
“They preserved anonymous email metadata.”
My stomach tightened.
“Brandon?”
“Provider records point to his sister’s home network.”
“His sister?”
“She says Brandon used her laptop.”
Did she know purpose?
Unknown.
Police took statement.
She admitted he asked to “send something about Chloe’s friend.”
She did not read attachment.
Careless.
Not necessarily criminal.
Again.
People around Brandon kept handing him access because requests sounded ordinary.
Phone.
Laptop.
Family loyalty.
The same pattern.
Samantha’s firm eventually restored her promotion six months later after full review.
Not because story required reward.
Because she was qualified.
Meanwhile, Brandon sent a handwritten letter through attorney.
Not allowed direct contact.
His attorney forwarded only after Amelia approved.
Chloe,
I know I crossed lines. I was scared. The company was failing. Gambling was the only place I felt like I could win something back. I never meant to trap you.
I stopped.
The email said otherwise.
Once Chloe is tied into restructuring, she won’t walk.
Intent written.
He continued:
Your parents were using me too. Richard wanted his money. Elaine wanted you to stay married so she wouldn’t have to admit her own marriage is unhappy.
Maybe partly true.
Manipulators often sprinkle truth into deflection.
Then:
Samantha has always hated me.
I laughed.
Of course.
No full accountability.
I did not answer.
At the next criminal hearing, the prosecutor disclosed that financial investigators intended to seek charges related to identity fraud and lending documents.
Brandon’s defense became more serious.
His lawyer requested global plea discussions across state cases where jurisdiction allowed coordination.
Marisol Vega called me.
“Would you oppose a negotiated resolution if it includes incarceration, restitution, no contact, and admissions?”
“I need to hear facts.”
“Good.”
“What admissions?”
“We’re drafting.”
I wanted him to say:
I hit Chloe.
I threatened her.
I forged her consent.
I used debt to pressure her.
Not because words heal.
Because for years he used language to erase reality.
This time, language could pin it down.
Then Amelia warned:
“Do not build your healing around his allocution.”
I sighed.
“Everyone in my life keeps ruining my revenge fantasies with mental health.”
May you like
“Occupational hazard.”
She smiled.
