Page 36 of The Mood Board

Her eyes narrowed again, but she licked her lips and took a deep breath. “I did work for Horizons, and yes, I changed my name. But it isn’t what you think.”

“So what is it?”

Janelle and I both looked up to find Tom in the doorway, his arms crossed and his expression stormy and forbidding. Bianca hovered beside him.

The redhead paled and licked her lips again.

“I changed my name to get a job here because I have a noncompete clause,” Janelle finally admitted. “I’m not supposed to be here—I could get sued. But I wanted to work here so badly, to work with Liam, and take part in all the good he’s doing. Bailey, I believe in his vision so much, you have no idea.” She came around her desk toward us, her fist closed in impassioned conviction.

Though Bianca and I exchanged a look, Tom said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

“I know, it was terrible of me.” Janelle bowed her head, penitent. “But I believe in Liam and his cause.”

I should have believed her. I wanted to believe her. But something about Janelle’s confession seemed off. I didn’t even know why, except in the pit of my stomach, I didn’t believe her.

“I promise, I didn’t do it to cause trouble.” Janelle looked to each of us, pleading. “Please. You have to believe me. All I want to do is work here.”

We all looked to Tom, who had the final say. But he only grunted and turned, stalking from the room. Bianca hurried after him after a startled look, and, after collecting the laptop, so did I. We left Janelle standing in her office, staring at the place where Tom had been standing.

I got back to Tom’s office just as he dropped into his chair and buried his head in his hands again. Closing the door, I joined him and Bianca by the desk.

“What are we going to do?” I asked.

“Nothing right now,” Tom groaned. “We don’t need any more scandal.”

He was right, of course. Whatever Janelle had done or not done, the company was facing too much as it was.

“Can we at least look into her? Maybe look into her past? See if what she said was true?” I asked.

Tom raised his head, sighing. “Yeah. I can do that, at least. Keep things quiet. I know someone who can help.”

It was all we could do for now.

But another question remained: Should I tell Liam?

No, not yet. They were only suspicions. Maybe not even that. And the last thing I wanted to do was give him one more reason to worry, to agonize over his business. Plus, I didn’t like Janelle, but I didn’t want to ruin her career, either. Even if she was innocent, I was afraid anything I said would cause Liam to fire her. And right now, the business needed her, as much as I hated to admit it.

I would go to him if and when I had proof.

But not now.