AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll get the door,” Roberto said.
She didn’t say anything as she was caught up in what she was reading on the internet. The company name did not have a website that she could find, and in this day and age of technology, that threw up a red flag for her. And then she typed in the phone number from the invoice. It said it belonged to a woman by a totally different name.
Roberto closed the door and set the food on the nightstand next to his bed since they had the table covered with their computers and papers. “I thought you were hungry.”
“I, uh...” She typed in the physical address listed on the invoice.
Roberto moved to her side. “You what? Did you find something?”
“I don’t know.” Using online global mapping, she tracked the address down to an empty lot. “This invoice, it’s not making sense.”
He crouched down next to her. “You mean the amount isn’t matching up?”
She shook her head. “It matches. But I decided to go a step further with each invoice and check out the company. This particular company, I don’t think it’s legit.”
“Do you mind?” He gestured to the computer.
“Look for yourself. Maybe I’m more tired than I thought.”
He swung the laptop around and started moving through the various reports that were all open on the screen. He repeated all her steps, from doing an internet search for the company name to the phone number and the physical address. All were the same results.
Then he asked to borrow her phone.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m calling the number.” His finger moved over the screen.
“But it’s late.”
“And this is too important to wait around.” He pressed a button and put the phone on Speaker.
It rang a few times, and just about the time that Stasia thought no one was going to answer, a female voice came on the line. Roberto asked if this was the company name on the invoice. The woman said it wasn’t. He asked if she’d ever heard of the company. She said she hadn’t and asked who he was and what he wanted. The woman was very nice, but she was no help as far as finding the company.
After Roberto disconnected the phone call, he dialed again. This time turning off the speakerphone.
“Who are you calling now?”
He held up a finger as he pressed the phone to his ear this time. “Grandfather, I hope I didn’t wake you.”
Roberto asked him if he had ever heard of the company. They continued to speak for a few minutes, after which Roberto told him he wasn’t prepared to report anything on his findings just yet.
After Roberto disconnected the call, she looked at him. “Well...”
“My grandfather said there used to be a company by that name, but they’d gone out of business a number of years ago.”
“Which explains why they don’t have an internet presence. So then why is your grandfather’s business still paying them?”
“That’s what I intend to find out.”
“But first food.” She got to her feet and led him to the food. “Eat,” she said in a firm tone.
Roberto’s brows lifted. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re bossy?”
“If you’re trying to charm me—”
“You think being called bossy is charming?”
She thought about it for a minute. “Sure. I like being taken seriously.”
“Oh, I take you seriously. Especially when you uncover what is surely a case of embezzlement.” He stepped closer to her. “This is it. My grandfather will at last take me seriously and offer me the CEO position.”
“It’s your birthright. Of course he will.”
Roberto shook his head. “You don’t know my grandfather. It’s his way or no way. But this revelation changes things. This is exactly what I needed. Do you have any idea how amazing you are?”
“Stop.” She couldn’t have him flirting with her. It was too painful. He had his answer. Her job was finished. “I have to go.”
She turned and headed for the door.
“Stasia. Wait.”
She kept going. If she were to stop now—if she were to look into his eyes—her bravado would crumble. And she refused to make a fool of herself in front of him by letting him know that she’d fallen for her pretend fiancé.
