“Then be happy with her.Fix this and be happy with her.I love you, big brother, but you can be an idiot at times.I’m guessing you didn’t listen toher, either.”
My lips twitched at her words even though they rang true.I hadn’t listened when she told me about her family, nor when she tried to tell me I was panicking every time Mindy called.I put my head in my hands and groaned.I’d screwed everything up.
“Tell me everything that happened with Valerie, and let’s see if I can help you get out of the hole you’ve dug yourself into.”
Our food arrived, and I stared at it.What could it hurt to talk about Valerie?Mindy was a grown woman, and it was time I treated her like one.She might have some insight into how I could make things up with Valerie.“Well, it started…” I didn’t stop until I had the whole story out.
By the time I finished, I sat there completely wrung out.Damn, saying it all out loud made me realize how much I’d fucked up.What a colossal ass I’d been.I could see it now.So how could I apologize and ask her to give me yet another chance.One I wasn’t going to screw up.I needed Valerie in my life.
Chapter Thirty
Valerie
My forensic audit of Rustic Delights took on a whole new life after seeing my father at the restaurant.I spent the next two days poring over the books and invoices and calling suppliers to verify purchase orders.I went down to R&D to chat with Marcus, then had a long talk with Josh and Dean about the wood and other supplies that should be used in this type of furniture design.The connections were starting to form, and it wasn’t good.Rustic was a liability waiting to happen—along with regulatory sanctions.
Everything made sense now that the financial pathways were clearer.
The accountant was the one who’d ordered the substandard materials.Which explained the mismatched wood and cracks Lucas and I had seen.When I traced the payments, it showed the full price on the books, but a day later, there was a transfer of money to another company.The last piece of the puzzle lay on the table before me: Who was profiting from this?
After I finally laid everything out, all the pieces fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.It took me a while to trace the payments, but when I did, I sat back in my chair.In shock.My father’s company owned the companies listed in the Rustic ledgers.
Oh, Father, what have you done?This wasn’t good at all, but I couldn’t ignore the evidence in front of me.My father may not have wanted much to do with me, but he is my father.My heart hurt.Glancing at Lucas’ empty desk, I wished he was here.He would help me with what I’d found.This would devastate my family.But it was my job and… What?When had my family shown me an ounce of concern?So why was I worried about them?This wasn’t my mistake.I was just the person who found it.My father made his bed, and he had to face the consequences.
My mother and sister might never talk to me again, but that wasn’t much of a loss there.While I might not get along with my family, this was going to have big impact.My stomach churned.In a million years, I never would have thought my father could do something this horrible.
I had no idea when Lucas would be back, and this needed to be dealt with.Picking up the phone, I called John Boyd’s office.He wasn’t in today, but his assistant set up an appointment for tomorrow morning.
It wasn’t ideal.I’d rather have gotten this out of the way, but maybe it was for the best.It would give me time to write up a formal report, and hopefully Lucas would be back then.If not… I picked up my cell and dialed him.Voice mail.Not ideal, but he needed to know what was going on.“Lucas, it’s Valerie.A heads up.As much as I wish you were here so we could talk, I’m having a meeting with John Boyd tomorrow.I found the issue with Rustic.That’s all I can say over the phone.When you get back, let me know.I really wish you were here.”
I hung up before I told him I missed him.There was a hollow space inside me where Lucas had resided.I’d fallen for the man a second time.I had to take part of the blame and could only hope that he’d give me a chance to make it right and give us a chance.If not, I wasn’t sure my heart would survive.
Gathering all the evidence, I compiled it into an formal presentation and had just finished when the office door opened.I glanced up, anticipation filling me, thinking it was Lucas.My heart sank when I saw it was Cassie.“Hi.”I hoped I kept my disappointment out of my voice.Cassie didn’t deserve my sour mood.
“Let’s go,” Cassie said.
“Go?”What was she talking about?
“Grab your purse.Emma is waiting for us.”Cassie gestured to the door.
“Cassie, I have a lot of work to do.”That wasn’t exactly true.Now that I knew what was going on with Rustic, my job was pretty much done.That meant no more working with Lucas.The last thread we had would be severed.Everything in me cried out in pain.
“No arguments.”Arms crossed over her chest, Cassie tapped her foot.
I’d seen her like this and knew if I didn’t get up and go with her, she’d drag me out.A small laugh escaped just thinking about Cassie strong-arming me out of the office.
“Let me put these papers away.”Grabbing a folder, I put all the paperwork into it and locked it in my desk.Not that anyone would bother it, but this was too big to be careless about.After taking my purse out of the drawer, I stood.
Cassie smiled.“It’s girl time.”
“Girl time?”
“Yes.You’ve been moping around all week.”
I really couldn’t deny Cassie’s words.I missed Lucas so much.My place felt empty without him, and the office was dead and boring.Funny how in such a short time he’d become a part of my life again, a presence I didn’t want to lose.
True to her words, Emma waited in the lobby.We walked to the Summit Café and to the table we sat at before.I hadn’t even realized how hungry I was until I smelled tomato soup.My stomach growled.
“What time is it?”I hadn’t been paying attention to the time at all.
