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EIGHT
HEATH
“You look like shit,” Mace says when he walks in my office.
“Good, because I feel like shit, and I’d hate to not match my outfit.” I can hear the grouchy sarcasm in my own ears, so I imagine it comes across even worse to him.
“Listen, it wasn't all bad news last night,” he tries to say, but I shake my head.
In our meeting last night, Nelly told us what she and her husband Dave uncovered, and so far it wasn’t much. The person she’s most suspicious of is Lionel Jenkins, or Jinx as we call him around the office. He was initially employed by our dad about thirty years ago and is the head of our billing department. Mace and I agree that there’s no way it’s him because he’s close with our family and he’s got money of his own. He wouldn’t have a need to steal from the company, and I don’t even think he’s capable of it.
Nelly disagreed but also couldn’t provide evidence other than he’s the only one besides us with full access. She told us she's still looking at motives, but digging into someone’s dirt is a slow process, and we have to be patient.
It was aggravating as we went in circles, and on top of that, Meadow didn’t text me back. I guess I could have put more than a single word as an apology, but I sent it quickly thinking I’d add more later. By the time we got out of the meeting and I saw she read the text but didn’t reply, I was pissed off and frustrated.
The one thing we all agreed on was that Nelly should come to the office this week and pose as a new employee. That way she can get into Jinx’s office and see if there’s any evidence in there. I still think it’s impossible because he wouldn’t do that to the family, but I conceded that in this situation, everyone is a suspect.
“It’s not about what Nelly told us.” I push away from my desk and go to the window. It’s still early morning, but Meadow should be here soon.
“I told you to text her back last night.” I feel Mace come closer, and then eventually he stands beside me. “We did this to ourselves.”
“I know,” I snap and then sigh. “Sorry.”
“It’s not going to work on me either,” he teases, and I roll my eyes.
“I know we did this to ourselves, but I didn’t think it would be this hard to make them understand we had reasons.” I run my hands through my hair out of frustration. “All of which seem genuinely stupid at this moment.”
“Well, we didn’t exactly make it easy on them by keeping them at arm's length while sabotaging any chance of happiness they had with someone else.”
“When you put it like that…” I shake my head.
“Heath, I’ve got my own battle with Briar, so I can’t have you being the broody twin all the time. Let me have a turn.”
“I don’t like it either, if it makes you feel any better.” I check my watch for the five hundredth time this morning. Why won’t she get here already?
“You’re closer to Meadow now than you’ve ever been. Just explain that you’re a fucking idiot, and she’ll understand.”
When I glower at him, he winks and then walks out of my office like everything is totally normal. I guess in a way it is, because I’m miserable without Meadow.
Deciding to meet her right when she walks off the elevator, I go and wait in the lobby and pace back and forth. As soon as the clock strikes eight, the doors open and thank god, she’s standing there looking like an absolute angel.
It’s just too bad that she’s scowling at me.
“Good morning,” I start to say before she shoves my coat in my face and doesn’t say a word.
“Morning, Heath,” I hear Nelly say.
I look up in time to see Meadow stomping toward the conference room and Nelly getting off the elevator. I guess they rode up together.
“Hey.” I toss my coat on the couch. “You can go talk to Mace. I’ll be with you shortly.”
I don’t wait around to see what Nelly does as I hurry to catch up with Meadow. She’s already at the table in the conference room and setting up her laptop when I enter.
“Listen, about last night…”
“Today I’d like to go over the files in acquisitions if you could get me that code,” Meadow says, completely ignoring me.
“I will, but first I want to apologize for real and not just with a text.” She won’t look at me as I talk so I move closer. “Meadow, I’m sorry I—”
