AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She nods once, then points to her desk. From there, I can see Vincent and the others practically spraining their brains in a fruitless attempt to work out what we’re talking about. There’s a reason I chose the watercooler; it’s out of earshot, obviously. “I need to get back to work, though…”
“Sure, please, carry on.”
I smile politely and walk away, but I cannot ignore the frantic fluttering of my pulse as the physical distance between us grows wider. It’s hell when she isn’t with me, but it’s just as bad when she’s merely within my reach yet I am unable to touch her. Both states of existence are torture, and I am determined to change things, to make the future a better option for the both of us.
Tomorrow will be crazy. But it must be done precisely the way I planned it. Becky deserves nothing less, and it’s high time for me to put things right. Having children was never part of my plan, but they’re happening either way. And while Becky rejected the idea of my direct involvement, I will still provide financial assistance—that much goes without saying. It’s the thought of not being there to watch my children grow up… That’s what has made life so much harder these past few days.
It's been living hell, actually.
And it needs to change.Ineed to change.
CHAPTER24
TODD
The big day.
The day that not so long ago I thought I would never actually see. I thought my lies would catch up with me. They sort of did, but in the weirdest and most bitterly amusing way possible.
There is a lesson to be learned here. I see it. I hear it, loud and clear. Hopefully, I will not repeat this process anytime in the future. I will stick to the truth and hold on to it like there is no tomorrow—otherwise, the repercussions will run deep and their impact will be sensed across an entire generation.
I can’t believe we’re here, in my office.
John is sitting in one of the guest chairs while Becky has the one next to him. Beside me, Piper stands proudly, clutching the legal folder tightly against her chest. Every sheet of paper within has been verified and vetted by both sets of lawyers, and we’re good to finally go ahead with the sale HeartMatch. My heart aches, but it’s something I have been preparing for a long time now. It’s long overdue. The end of an era and the beginning of a new and better life.
Maybe this ends with a better version of me, too.
“I’m glad we’re all here today,” I say. “Thank you, John, for taking a chance on my company. I promise you won’t regret it. I’m sure the external audits have told you that much.”
“Oh, yeah,” John says. “I know you’re leaving me with a gem of a platform, Todd, and I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure it runs smoothly from here on out. I’ll have my best people joining your people on the executive board, as you know.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them,” Piper chimes in with a bold smile.
It’s a huge step for her. A ginormous promotion, come to think about it. From personal assistant to executive manager—but she’s been by my side for long enough for me to be sure that I’m doing the right thing by giving her the reins. If anyone knows the company and its inner workings as well as me, it’s Piper. I’m lucky to have had her by my side this whole time, and I know the company will do even better with her as part of the leadership. I’ll bet she would ugly-cry tears of joy right now if it weren’t so… unbecoming.
“You’ve built a fine thing here,” John says. “I’m sure you’re proud.”
“You know what, John? I am. I started this thing at a point in my life when nobody gave a damn about me. I was kid, barely out on my own and still struggling. I made HeartMatch for a reason, and the people who signed up for it turned it into the roaring success that it is today. Our matching algorithms are unparalleled even today. I know our competitors are still trying to send spies into the company to get hold of our secret tools—tools with which I will be entrusting you shortly…”
John laughs lightly. “Don’t worry, man. I’ve got your back.”
“Right, but if you really do have my back, then there is something you should know, which is the truth. The whole truth. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I wouldn’t feel right selling you this company, my life’s work, without giving you the whole truth about myself. These past few months have been incredible for me; everything has changed, including my outlook on… well, frickin’ everything!” I chuckle nervously as I notice the concerned looks on both Becky’s and Piper’s faces. Yeah, this is going to sting, but I’m sticking to my guns. “The whole truth is, John, that up until a few months ago, I didn’t really know Becky. In fact, I didn’t know her at all.”
“What are you talking about?” he asks, frowning with confusion.
“Oh, no,” Piper moans.
I raise a hand to silence her but proceed with my confession. “I lied some years ago about having married off of HeartMatch. For that, I will forever be sorry. It’s not usually within my nature to be deceptive like this, but I was in a tight spot and I needed the funding. I figured I’d sell the idea of taking HeartMatch global a lot faster… and it worked. And one thing led to another… It got to a point where I couldn’t tell the truth anymore; I couldn’t risk the support I’d gathered up to that moment. I ended up lying to you in a similar fashion. My personal life has been the only lie I have ever told about HeartMatch, by the way. You’ve seen for yourself that the company itself is spotless.”
“Hold on.” John nods to Becky. “What about Rebecca, then?”
“Rebecca works in our graphics department, and I’m sorry again for the deception, John. We both are. But she needed the money, and I needed a woman to play the part of my wife while you audited my company. I only hope you understand why I did things this way…”
He’s stunned.Furiousand stunned, judging by the deep and dark furrow of his brows. “You’ve got to be frickin’ kidding me.”
“Oh, God,” Becky mumbles, sinking into her seat, her face as red as a tomato.
“I bear the full responsibility, John. I did what I thought was right in order to protect the company and in order to make sure it ended up in your capable hands and no one else’s. I don’t trust anyone else to lead HeartMatch, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.Iwouldn’t be here, risking everything by telling you the truth… But I have to tell you something, John… A wonderful thing happened while I was spinning this well-meaning lie for you,” I add, then look to Becky. “I fell in love with this incredible woman. I didn’t think it was possible; I didn’t think I had it in me, but I fell for her. I fell hard and I haven’t been able to recover since.”
