“Please send your full report on to Legal.Will you be in the office if they have questions?”
“I’ll send it the minute I get back to my desk.As for staying, today might be my last day depending on what your corporate lawyers decide.I’ve more or less finished my job here at Fantasies, Inc.”I stood.A lead ball had formed in my stomach at the thought of leaving, but as I’d said, my job was done.
“I understand.I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”John stood and held out his hand.“You’ve been a good fit here at Fantasies, Inc.We’re sorry to see you go.If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
I shook his hand.“Thank you.”I walked out and went back to the office.There wasn’t much for me to do, but I needed to be available just in case.The shit was about to hit the fan.
I wish Lucas was here.
Chapter Thirty-One
Lucas
I dropped my bags inside my house in the early hours of Friday morning and let out a sigh.Three days with Mindy and working out a way to apologize to Valerie had wiped me out.My sister had been right.She didn’t need me rushing to her side or being her knight in shining armor anymore.My baby sister had grown up.I’d come to terms with that fact.
A quick shower to wash off the red-eye flight, since that was the first flight I could get out.I hadn’t slept much on the plane, mainly because I didn’t know how Valerie was going to react to my apology and my declaration of love.
She was the right woman for me, and I’d let her down a second time.No more.When I heard her message, late yesterday, my heart dropped.Not that I didn’t have confidence in her figuring out what was going on, only that there was no reason for her to stay at FI.
I dressed and then drove to the office.I couldn’t wait to see Valerie.When I walked into the office, she wasn’t there.I frowned.She was always early.I paused; something wasn’t right.There were no papers on her desk, no sticky notes.No ledger.
Fuck.She’d left already?I sat down at my desk.A folder marked urgent sat under my keyboard.I opened it.I read the summary page.Holy shit.Her father was involved.I grabbed my phone.
“Miles, where is Valerie?”
“Look who’s back.”The sarcasm in Miles’ voice made me cringe.
“I know.I screwed up.Where is she?Her desk is empty.”
“Valerie is locked in the conference room on the C-suite level with Legal.”
“That big of a mess?”
“Yes.”
“I’m reading her report now.”I kept reading the summary she left.“Got to go.”I didn’t even let Miles respond.This was bad.Very bad.Valerie was going to need support, and I needed to be there for her.
Grabbing the report, I high-tailed it out of the office and up to the C-suite.I knocked on the conference room door and waited until someone said come in.
All eyes turned my way when I walked in, but I had eyes for only one person.Valerie.She looked tired.“Everyone, sorry to be so late.I had a family emergency and just returned.”I took the empty seat across from Valerie on John’s left.I wanted to sit next to Valerie, but Nick was there.At least I could see her face.“Lucas Bryer.”
“Glad to have you here, Mr.Bryer,” the blond-haired man in a suit said.“We’re discussing what Ms.Ray found as it pertains to Rustic and Bernard Ray Enterprises.”
I nodded, but noticed Valerie was looking down at the table.Did she think I’d blame her?She was innocent in all of this.Hell, she wrote the damn report.I studied her.Valerie looked tired and… I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something else.
“Shall we continue,” John said.
“Yes.”Nick shuffled the papers in front of him.“Ms.Ray, tell me how you got involved with all this and why I should believe you’re not a part of it?”
I stiffened.“What kind of question is that?”I pushed my chair back.
Valerie raised her head.“Sit down, Lucas.”Her voice was soft.“As I already said, I was asked by my boss to take on this job.And from my understanding, Mr.Boyd requested me.”
She was calm.Too calm.This was a Valerie I’d seen before.She was shutting down.Damn it, this was a disaster.
* * *
Five hours later, the corporate and SEC lawyers and investigators all left.A warrant had been issued for Bernard Ray’s arrest, which would probably happen shortly.“Well, that was fun.Not.”I commented.It was more brutal than I expected.Several times, I had to force myself not to lunge at the investigators questioning her.
