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“Melissa,” I said coolly.
“Reese, can you please come to Kane’s office as soon as possible?” Her tone was serious but not unkind. “He has several things he needs to discuss with you, and it’s better to do so in person rather than over the phone.”
I snorted. “You want to frame me for something else? No fucking way. You probably have the police waiting to arrest me.”
“Please come in, and we’ll explain everything when you get here.”
I hung up and looked at my friends. “They want me to go into the office.”
Eileen and Mandy’s eyes went wide. “Are you going to go?” Mandy asked.
I chewed on my bottom lip and stroked my pendant. “What if it’s some kind of trap?”
“What if it’s not?” Eileen pointed out. “I’ll go with you. See what they have to say. My brothers and my father are lawyers. I know enough legal jargon to help you out.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to do that. I don’t want you getting in trouble or fired because of me. You two have already done enough. It’s time for me to face the lions in their den.”
“Tell us what happens immediately, Reese,” Eileen begged. A worried frown played on her full lips. “Don’t admit to something you didn’t do. I hate you going in there without representation.”
“If I go there with all guns blazing, it’ll look like I’m guilty.” I stood and gave them both a hug. “Thanks for your help guys. Thanks for trying.”
“We weren’t much help,” Mandy said with a shrug.
“You were. You believed me when no one else did.”
****
During the cab ride to McKenzie’s, I felt like I was going to my own funeral. I should’ve told Melissa to fuck off, but the stubborn part of me wanted to try to get my point across one more time. I wanted to try to get them to listen and realize it wasn’t me. I didn’t embezzle so much as a dime.
I wasn’t rich, but I wasn’t destitute. I could pay my bills and keep a roof over my head, and I had a small nest egg in case times got rough.
I wanted nothing materialistic from Kane.
I didn’t want his money.
I didn’t want his house.
Didn’t want his cars or exotic vacations.
I had wanted him and nothing more.
After the cab driver dropped me off, I stood outside McKenzie’s for eons debating back and forth about going in. There was no sign of squad cars or undercover cops, so maybe I wasn’t going to get ambushed and arrested.
Finally, I went into the lobby half expecting to be thrown out on my ass, but Tony smiled and instructed me to go on up.
On the way to the penthouse, my legs shook, and my stomach churned. Was I doing the right thing?
The elevator shuddered to a stop, but before I stepped out, I took a deep, centering breath in an attempt to settle my nerves. Whatever happened when I walked into Kane’s office would affect the rest of my life. Even if I fought and cleared my name, I would never get another job doing what I loved best. I would be blacklisted forever.
A deafening silence blanketed the top floor. Where was everyone? Still no sign of any cops, which could only be a good thing.
I walked down the hallway, my sneakers squeaking off the polished hardwoods with every step.
When I reached his office, I rapped my knuckles against the door, and when I heard him say come in, I swallowed hard.
This was it.
This was my chance to face my accusers and somehow convince them of my innocence.
Keeping my head held high, I pushed the door open, walked inside and gasped. Sloane, Melissa, and Kane where there.
“What’s going on? Why are you all here?” I felt my knees go weak and struggled to stand upright and proud.
“Please sit, Reese,” Kane said, “we need to talk. We all owe you an apology.”
“I see,” I said. My heart thundered so fast and hard I felt I would have a heart attack at any second. I inched towards the gray couch and sat down hard. “Why do you all me an apology? Was it the rumors about Simon? The accusations of larceny?”
“We discovered that Linda framed you,” Kane explained matter-of-factly. He leaned casually against his desk.
A wisp of wind could have knocked me down. “Linda? How? But she was always so nice and helpful.”
“I haven’t ever really liked you,” Sloane chimed in, and we all turned to her. “I thought you didn’t deserve a job here and quite frankly, I’ve thought that you’re a real bitch, but I’m over it now and you don’t deserve to go to prison.”
The room began to spin. “Okay, Thanks. Can someone please explain?” I asked while I put my hands up to rub my temples.
Sloane continued. “After we walked away from you, the day you confronted us on the steps, Linda said something I found odd. She said she couldn’t wait until you went away forever. And that maybe then Kane would realize the mistake he’d made by not pursuing a relationship with her. I acted like I gave a crap and asked her to explain what she meant. She went into detail about what being Kane’s mentee meant—gross by the way—she said that a few years ago, she was meant to be his.”
