Page 54 of The Mood Board

“You got that right,” Tom chuckled.

“Okay, good.” I brushed crumbs from my hands before pushing against the chair’s arms to get to my feet. “I’m glad to hear it. I’ll call you tomorrow to figure the rest out, but I have to get home.”

Now that I knew the company was okay, the only thing I could think to do was to get home to Bailey.

Tom and Bianca exchanged glances, and then Tom sighed. “There’s one more thing I think you need to hear.”

Halfway to my feet, I stopped, looking at their twin expressions: Their mouths were thinned to lines, and Bianca wouldn’t look me in the eye. I sank back into my seat, wondering what bombshell my best friend was about to drop.

“It’s about Janelle—” Tom started and explained everything he, Bianca, and Bailey had found, including the name change and the fact that she had worked for Horizons and a few other things Tom had found with more digging.

“How did you know to look?” I asked, stunned.

Bianca and Tom exchanged another look. “It was Bailey’s idea, actually. She was the one who looked into her first. I guess she never trusted Janelle.”

“Yeah,” I replied, thinking back to what she had been trying to tell me when the police and FBI had shown up to arrest me. “She said something like that.”

“I mean, her story makes sense. It’s far-fetched, but she wouldn’t be the first to try to get around a non-compete clause.” Tom shrugged, but I could sense that he didn’t believe it.

“She even mentioned something to me later about getting away from an abusive ex,” Bianca added. “But it’s hard to verify that one.”

Tom rolled his lips, his gaze on the carpet. “I just think it’s weird that she worked for Horizons. They’re our biggest rival, and they’ve been gunning for us since they reorganized after bankruptcy.”

Silence fell on the room, but I knew we were all thinking the same thing—going after a rival company was one thing, and it had happened before. But trying to get me thrown in prison so they could do it? It seemed incredibly far-fetched, and I’d never heard of the like before.

But if nothing else could explain what had happened, what other explanation was there?

“I think it’s time we tell the lawyers what’s going on,” I said, pushing myself up again. “Keep it quiet. I don’t want it getting back to anyone.”

Tom nodded. “I’ll do that.”

“And loop Janelle into only what we have to. She probably already knows too much about the company, but let’s keep her from learning anymore.”

Another sharp nod of the head told me Tom agreed.

It was an enormous revelation, one that shook me to my core. But I couldn’t focus on it at that moment—I had to get home to see Bailey, talk to her, and try to save our relationship.

“Tom, can you call me a car? I have to get home.”