Page 30 of Leafpoint Lighthouse

“Joseph?”

“The solicitor managing the inheritance and trusts.”

“I see.”

“Are you always so stuffy?” I asked.

“Stuffy?”

“Uptight, rigid. Don’t you bend, William. Do you know how to have fun?”

A snowball smacked me in the face, and I spluttered in shock.

“What was that?” I shrieked.

William looked worried, and then I threw my own snowball in retaliation. He laughed and tossed another at me. For the next ten minutes we fought, laughing and yelping as we did. Finally, we stopped.

“We had better head back. I need to prepare the lamp,” William said.

“Okay.” I smiled. It was the first genuine smile in forever. It didn’t last. My phone rang as we neared the lighthouse, and I frowned when I recognised the office number.

“Hello?” I answered cautiously.

“Miss Jasper?”

“Yes, this is Lyra.”

“Miss Jasper, this is Helen from HR. I’m sure you know why we’re calling,” she snapped angrily.

“Actually, no, I don’t. My resignation was emailed and stated that I didn’t expect holiday pay for the holidays I didn’t take. That was fair considering my lack of notice.”

“This isn’t about that. It’s about the files you stole. Those are confidential company products, and we demand them back.”

“I beg your pardon,” I said, coming to a stop.

William paused beside me, looking concerned.

“The Sinclair, Harrison, and Danish projects. We understand you took them out of spite,” Helen declared.

“Oh, I did? And you’ve checked CCTV?”

“We have statements from Serena and Cale. We’ve been made aware that because of your breakup, you spitefully set out to destroy them and brought drama into the workplace.”

“My solicitor shall be in contact with you. Be certain about these allegations, because you will regret them,” I said and put the phone down, shaking.

“What are you going to do? That sounded serious,” William asked, brushing my hair away from my face.

“Call Joseph; he’ll know what to do.”

The good mood soured; we headed inside.

Two days later, I waited calmly in the reception area of my former workplace. The receptionist kept scowling at me as I texted Thea.

Helen, along with director Mark, emerged from the opened door. Behind them stood Cale and Serena, looking smug.

“Miss Jasper. I don’t see the files,” Mark said, approaching.

“We’re waiting for my legal representative. Don’t talk to me without him,” I answered and returned to texting.