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My report was gone. Tissues and rose petals were in its place, surrounded by several vases of sunflowers with a stone-cold coffee in a takeaway cup.
He took my report. My blood boiled.
Gel-tipped nails… four months ago... he took my report!
I could hear Caroline crying behind the closed door. I dropped my bag and barged in.
* * *
Stuart
“What are ye doin’ in here?” I snapped, as Amanda burst through the door.
First, Caroline’s treachery and now Amanda’s blatant disregard for a private meeting. Amanda glanced at Caroline, then back to me, her face clouded with fury.
“You took my report!”
“It was addressed to me!” I seethed. “If ye don’t mind, I’m busy!”
Caroline sobbed but I was not falling for sympathy. Oh yes, she might have looked distraught and showed no trace of guilt but these were signs of a practised liar.
A small voice clambered in my head for attention. Something isn’t right!
I cracked my neck, pushing the thought aside. I had the evidence in my hand of what she’d done.
“I wasn’t finished with my report. That was a draft! Otherwise I would have given it to you personally!” Amanda’s fists were balled up, her mouth in a thin, white line.
“The report was done. I acted upon it.”
A bolt of panic welled up inside me, but I swept it aside. Amanda let out a cry and took two steps towards me, stabbing me with her finger.
“New information has come to light and you need to stop this meeting right now!”
Caroline glanced up at Amanda, tissue halfway to her nose. Mascara ran down her cheeks.
“How dare ye interrupt -” I ground out but Amanda cut me off.
“Caroline, go. Now!”
The woman jumped to her feet, sneaking a quick glance at me.
“What -” I was cut off again.
“Just go, Caroline. I need to talk to Stuart immediately.”
Caroline scurried away without a second glance, slamming the door shut behind her.
I stared at the door in disbelief, listening to Caroline bang drawers and shove her office chair into her desk. No doubt fleeing the scene.
I rounded on Amanda, trapping her between me and the desk.
“Your report said she embezzled more than fifty thousand pounds! So don’t think ye can just come in here and interrupt me, while I’m conducting a disciplinary meeting -”
She stabbed me in the chest again, her steely gaze pinning me to the spot.
“I made a mistake. No - ” She shook her head. “I figured out the real reason why Caroline made errors in your financial records and I came immediately to stop you making a big mistake!”
“Help me?” My breathing was raw and ragged. “By bursting in and claiming I’m wrong in front of others!”
