“Yeah, but I’ll leave if you need someone to talk to.”
My heart warmed.I’d made some good friends at Fantasies, Inc.“No, please, don’t.”
“All right.But I’m going to check on you this weekend.”
“Thanks, Cassie.Have a drink for me.”Cassie was such a good friend.Not wanting to be disturbed, I put my phone on silent.My mother and sister weren’t going to stop their tirade.I pulled a bottle of wine out of fridge and carried it and a glass out onto the patio and sat down.I needed to unwind a bit.The next week wasn’t going to be fun.After the meeting with law enforcement, I knew they’d arrest my father and his accomplice.I just didn’t expect it to have been so fast.
John called me before my mother and sister arrived, asking me to continue at FI for next week instead of just Monday.Legal wanted me on hand if they needed more information.My insides twisted.Once that was done, I’d be leaving Lucas.
Pain hit me.I’d fallen for Lucas again.It hadn’t been hard.Lucas wasn’t like my father or other men in my life.At every turn, he rebuked my family, even today.He stood up for me, not because I was his responsibility, but because he cared.
Damn, I needed to figure out my own insecurities before I could talk with Lucas.That might take more time than I wanted.Or maybe not.I had another appointment with the psychologist next week, and that would be a perfect time to talk out everything that happened with my father.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Lucas
Frustration was becoming a daily occurrence in my life.Legal had been in and out of our office all week as we finalized reports.The DA had told Valerie she might be needed to testify at her father’s trial.And the defense would bring up everything they could get their hands on.Valerie looked tired, and then yesterday, she’d taken off in the afternoon, saying she had an appointment.
All I wanted to do each night was take her home and cuddle with her, giving her my strength and love.But that hadn’t happened.I’d kept things very professional in the office for her sake.I didn’t want anyone to pry into our private life.But damn.This was killing me.Worse, Valerie didn’t look well, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
Surprisingly, Valerie’s mother and sister were silent.I was a little nervous over that.But maybe they’d finally come to realize the implications of what Bernard had done.All I could do was hope.
Today was Valerie’s last day at FI.Miles had been the one to remind me of that.I thought Legal needed her to stay more than this week, apparently not.It fueled my frustration.
I walked back into the office to find her back from her appointment and tidying her desk.“When were you going to tell me you were leaving?”
“I assumed you knew.”Her voice was soft and subdued.It had been that way all week.
“Valerie, we need to talk.”
I heard her sigh.“I know, but…” She waved her hands.“It’s been crazy this week.”
“It has been.”A knock on the door stopped me from saying more.The door opened, and Marcus poked his head in.
“Hey, we’re all heading to the pub early.”Marcus glanced at Valerie.“We want to treat you to a night out since this is your last day with us.”
“That’s not necessary,” Valerie commented.
“To us, it is.We expect to see you there in five minutes.”Marcus withdrew.
“I guess I’m going to the pub.”
“It will be good for both of us.”It gave me more time to figure out a game plan.I walked over to her.“Come one.Let’s go.”I captured her hand, and she didn’t resist.Good.
When we got to the pub, everyone was there.
“There’s the woman of hour,” Miles said, standing up along with the others.
“I was just doing my job.”Valerie sat in the chair I held out for her.
“You saved us,” Josh said.
“Saved our reputation and our bacon,” Dean added.
“Definitely on the bacon,” I commented.
“Can anyone tell us how this will affect us from acquiring Rustic?”Emma asked.
