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24 Will
AN EERIE SILENCE filled the board room, amplifying my hammering pulse. Beads of sweat formed at my hairline as my body temperature rose from the fury engulfing me. Huddled on the left side of the room, I stared at the document with four of my clients’ names on it.
Who the fuck was stealing from SJI?
“How can this be happening?” I jumped out of my seat and paced. I put my hands on the top of my head, breathing in and out slowly. My gut twisted, nausea settling in and a burning acid rising in my throat. I wanted to die.
“We don’t know, but we’re working on it,” my father replied.
I shot him a murderous look.
“You need to calm down. You’re not acting like the head of a billion-dollar empire.”
“That’s because I’m not!Yet.Nearly fifty million is gone. Gone! And all you can say is ‘calm down, we’re working on it’? Do you know how fucking pathetic that sounds?” I raged like a cornered animal, storming from one side of the room to the other and eyeing the double doors, my exit,my freedom.
But bolting would be weak—chicken shit. My clients were innocent. Still, all of this overwhelmed me to the core. Letting my father down was one thing. I was used to him being angry or disappointed with me. But my clients? They trusted me with their money and I didn’t take that shit lightly.
“Try to calm down, William. Blowing a fuse will not help the situation. You must stay level-headed, even if you have to fake it.”
“Fake it? I’d feel better if I could blow a fuse!”
“You’re young and emotional,” my grandfather said. “This isn’t the first time money has been stolen in the last fifty years. We will weather this storm and come out on top. Our investors will never know the difference… as long as we don’tblow a fuse.”
“How can you both be so damn calm? Why isn’t Peter in here? He would be undone like me.”
“That’s exactly why he isn’t here and he will not be told of this new…development.” My father shot me a pointed look. It wasn’t a request but an order. More lying. More secrets. “Understand?”
I continued to pace, gripping my head. “I understand. But it’s wrong! Uncle Peter is part of this family, and he should be in the know. He has clients too! This will affect them if we can’t get the money back.”
“William.” My father’s steely eyes darted from me to my grandfather. “We are in control. No one else is to be brought into this mess. Not Peter, your mother, or Miranda. Aside from York and his team, this stays between the three of us.”
Miranda. My stomach spasmed, and I bolted through the double doors and to the bathroom. I crouched, hitting the toilet in the nick of time. Gagging and heaving, I emptied the acid in my stomach. I hadn’t been able to eat much the last few days after I had gotten word there had been another breach.
I hated being forced into silence about what was going on within the glass walls of SJI. Lying never boded well with me, and keeping secrets from Miranda fucking made me sick. She was the one person I trusted completely. I needed her support and understanding.
Fifty million could cause the ruination of SJI if the media ever found out. How could my father and grandfather not see that?
I rinsed out my mouth and splashed water on my face, gathering my determination. I couldn’t show weakness. I had to fight for my clients. For my family. For my company. I wouldn’t crumble now.
“What are we doing about this bullshit?” I asked when I waltzed back into the board room confidently.
“Sit down, and we’ll go over our plan.” My father handed me a folder and passed one to my grandfather as I took my seat. “We believe there’s a mole within the company…”
For the last several hours, I sat in my office zoning out into the deep blue sea. Where the sky melted into the water. I searched for peace but couldn’t find it. I would rather be lost in the mighty ocean braving currents as they tossed me around mercilessly, hitting the ocean floor and raking my flesh against coral reefs, instead of here.
A fucking mole.
Every person I passed as I returned to my office after the meeting was a suspect. From the managers to the secretaries, janitors to caterers. Everyone in the building would be vetted by York. Three hundred and fifty-three people would be scrutinized, and the guilty would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The security system was in the process of being upgraded. York had his cameras and a secret office to be the eyes of SJI. Big brother would be watching every person who entered the building, but he wouldn’t be alone. Some guy York had worked with before retiring was on his way, Axel Pérez. York assured my father Axel could be trusted. We apparently needed his vetting skills; he was the best.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and found a message from Miranda.
Miranda: Two things. Do you want to golf this weekend with my dad? And Paris is on, you and me in the city of love! Book it babe!!!
What timing. When I felt hopeless and alone, my girl gave me the green light to plan our trip. For two weeks, I could escape the madness and be with the love of my life… in the city of perpetual love. I sent out a quick response, now anxious to get home to her.
Will: You’ve made me the happiest man. I love you, baby. Yes, golf with your dad.
Miranda: Love you too! XOXO
