Page 84 of Miss Treated

My aunt’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell do you mean?”

Ava walked in. “What’s happening?” she whispered, sidling up to me and Kelsey.

“How about we table this? There are guests, and this is a party,” I tried to interject.

Aunt Sophia turned on me. “No offense, Nicky, but considering how little value you provide to the company, this conversation definitely does not include you.”

“You don’t speak to him that way,” my father reprimanded sharply. “At least he’s loyal and honest, something you could take a lesson about.”

“Me? I’ve been working for you for over two decades. There is no one more loyal. You couldn’t manage a thing without me.”

“Ha. Well, I’ll tell you one thing. I’d be half a million dollars richer if you weren’t there.”

What the hell was he talking about? We were all equally confused, except for my father, who was angry, and my aunt, who looked shocked. Kelsey went completely pale beside me.

Chapter Forty-Four

Kelsey

No, no, no. This wasn’t happening. Yet it very much was. The outcome I’d convinced myself was not remotely possible was happening in real time.

Gerard wasn’t about to relent. Instead he put his foot on the gas.

“I wouldn’t be on the phone, on a Saturday, during my birthday party if it wasn’t for finding out my so-called most loyal employee—my wife’s sister—has been stealing from me.”

Ava’s horrified gasp had my stomach threatening to heave.

But it was Dominic’s mother who broke my heart. She put her hand on her sister’s arm. “What is he talking about? Soph?”

Now should’ve been when Sophia confessed the problem of her husband’s debt, and how she’d been desperate. But instead she fought like a cornered feral cat. “Is this why you brought in an auditor? To investigate me? She’s clearly as inexperienced as I thought. Whatever she found is bullshit.”

I could find no words to defend myself. Not here. Not like this. Reacting to years of self-protective measures, my body went into shutdown mode.

Gerard barked out a humorless laugh. “The checks were changed in the back-end system from legitimate vendors to an account belonging to you.”

She narrowed her gaze on me. “She’s lying. I don’t know why, but you’ve made up this entire thing.”

I felt defenseless.

Fortunately, Gerard spoke again. “She’s not lying. She did her job.”

“To help us with accounting processes or to find fraud?” Sophia accused.

“Does it matter?” Gerard boomed. “She found it. Suspected you for weeks, but finally had the proof on Tuesday.”

Dominic, who’d been quiet, turned to me. “Is that true? You suspected my aunt and didn’t say anything?”

“I told her not to,” Gerard interjected. “Her investigation was for my eyes only.”

Dominic faced his father. “Right, because you’d hate to involve your—how did you put it, Aunt Sophia?—a COO who adds no value.”

“This is ridiculous. Why would I need the money?” Sophia threw out, still refusing to go down.

Gerard’s anger started to dissipate but not enough to restrain his outburst. “Because of Frank’s gambling debts and how he put up his business as collateral.”

My gaze implored Dominic to understand how I hated this. I was desperate for him to believe this scene had never been my intention. I’d done my job. And I’d never meant for any of it to become personal.

Ava spoke up, turning to her mother. “What debts is Uncle Gerard talking about?”