AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I jerked my head toward the living room entry. Beau stood, arms crossed, daring me to argue.
“I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about you at the company.” She crossed the room and sat on the sofa beside me.
I glanced in the direction from which she’d come, but neither Lexie nor Eric were in sight.
“You’re not there all the time,” I said, refocusing. “And no one would speak ill of me in front of you.”
She pressed her lips together. “I’ve been there a lot lately.”
“I’d venture a guess you’ve never heard anyone speak ill of Father either.”
She glared. Because I was right.
“Why do you think your father wants Lincoln gone?” Zegas leaned back in his seat, drink in hand.
“That’s a different question,” Beau said. “Dad benefits if Lincoln steps away from Hollingsworth Properties because he’s cocky enough to think he can maintain what Lincoln built and keep all the profits for himself. But I don’t think hewantsyou gone.”
“My forensic accountant has looked over one year of your taxes. Everything looks in order.” Zegas smirked. “Well, I’m sure the IRS could find something to pick apart, but there’s nothing to be alarmed over.”
That wasn’t earthshaking news. I hadn’t evaded taxes beyond what the law allowed.
“One year doesn’t mean anything. And we don’t know if it’s the time period the authorities were investigating.” Matters such as these weren’t resolved overnight. I’d been in no hurry to prepare a defense, but now that we’d started, I just wanted it over.
“Don’t you use Dad’s accountant?” Beau asked.
“I do.” From the age I’d needed one, the man had handled my affairs. He was Father’s choice. Despite being capable of making my own selection, I chose to stay with my father’s. Because upsetting him over something like that wasn’t worth it to me. And with him, I never knew what trigger would set him on a warpath.
“Could he have gotten your returns mixed up with Dad’s?” She sat up straighter with hope.
I appreciated where Beau was going with that line of thought. It was a possibility, although a very unlikely one.
“That would be a very big mistake to make.” I straightened my cufflinks.
“Did the party move out here?” Lexie had changed into that awful sweatshirt that I loved and flannel pajama bottoms that were frayed at the bottom. And her socks still didn’t match.
“If this is a party, it’s no fun.” Zegas lifted his glass. “I’m the only one drinking, so maybe my problems are worse than all of yours.”
“I could phone Whitley. Insist he come over immediately.” I kept a serious face.
Zegas appeared a second away from throwing his drink on me. “Good luck with that. He’s a family man now and there are boundaries”—he shrugged and stood—“I’ll never understand.”
Would I?
Zegas set his glass on the end table and stuffed his files back into the briefcase.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“I’m working on the primary residence angle to keep you here.” He latched the case. “I don’t say this often, but I’m not sure how well it’s going to work.”
“What’s he talking about?” Beau narrowed her gaze.
“Guess you haven’t told them everything. Oops.” Zegas picked up his briefcase. “That’s my cue to go.” He turned before he left the living room. “I still have something I need to speak to you about, but it can wait until tomorrow. I’m smart enough to leave while I still can.”
He made quick strides out of sight. The door slammed behind him, and Muffy and Millie raced into the room to investigate the noise.
“Start explaining. Now,” Beau growled. “Do I need to call Teague for this?” She pulled her phone from her jeans pocket.
“No,” I said far too sharply.
