by C. L. Roman
“Yes. Let me get right to the point.” She didn’t speak in her usual chipper voice. “Mr. Foley called this morning, very upset, mind you. He claims cash is missing from his office. He stated he keeps a certain amount on hand locked in his desk drawer and the only person who has access to his office is you.”
Thank goodness I was sitting because a wave of dizziness swept through me. When Foley had told me I’d get a punishment, I’d never thought he would stoop to this level. I took a few deep calming breaths before responding.
“That’s insane, and for the record, the cleaning service also has access to his office. They have a key as well. More importantly, I don’t have a key to his desk, so I don’t understand why he would make such a harsh accusation. I would never steal from anyone. I have better morals than that. Also, if he really believed I took the money, why did he call you and not the police?”
“I did wonder that myself. According to Mr. Foley, he stated he keeps his keys on his desk and will leave the office periodically to run downstairs to the café in the lobby. He mentioned that would have been enough time for you to go into his desk drawer.”
“This is absurd, Jessica. Until now, I had no knowledge that he kept money in his drawer. When I’m at work, I remain at my desk. I never go into his office unless he calls me in there for a work matter.”
“Let me ask you a question: is it true your sister is receiving costly medical care?”
That dirty slime bag!
“Yes, but what does that have to do with this?”
“Mr. Foley informed me that you would discuss your sister’s poor health with him. He said you would also tell him you were responsible for paying for her care and complain about your finances. He felt uncomfortable with you providing such detailed information about your personal life. Now with Mr. Foley saying money is missing and you needing it, I’m starting to wonder…”
So Foley was painting himself as a victim. How seemingly appropriate. What a dick. And this was the punishment he’d come up with—get me fired so I no longer had a job and wouldn’t be able to pay for Irma’s treatments.
“Jessica, I’m insulted you would think I would stoop that low. I’ve been with this company for several months and have never had a bad word said about my work or my character. In addition, like I said, I certainly would never take something that doesn’t belong to me. Regarding Mr. Foley, he knows this is a temp agency, therefore he also knows I could have easily been transferred to a different office if he wasn’t pleased or comfortable with my presence or performance. As far as my sister is concerned, yes, I did tell him about her, as well as about her costly medical care, but I never fed him sob stories about my financial situation. That would be unprofessional. Mr. Foley was nice enough to offer to help me out, but let me make it clear that I never asked for a penny other than my salary, nor would I ever do so.”
Jessica’s brow creased. “Help you out how?”
Dammit! Why did I say anything? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Think of something…anything…
“I didn’t feel right borrowing money, so we decided he would pay me overtime for extra hours worked.”
“Then why weren’t those hours clocked? He could have easily added overtime hours to your paychecks.”
Shit!
Play it cool.
“We figured it would be best if he gave me cash instead.”
“An under-the-table kind of deal—is that what you’re saying?”
“I’m saying Mr. Foley offered me financial assistance in return for me putting in extra hours. Listen, I don’t want either of us to get into trouble. His intentions were good.” Yeah, right, the furthest thing from it.
“And I don’t want the reputation of this company being tainted by a shady deal that took place between you and your employer. When you originally signed the contract here at the agency, you agreed not to moonlight with employers you were placed with. In a sense, you are in breach of contract.”
I sank deeper into my chair. I had effectively dug my own grave—as in buried myself six feet under with the dirt piled on top of me.
“I’d like to get a clearer picture of this before we go any further. What type of extra work would he ask you to perform?”
The face she gave me indicated she wasn’t going to believe what I said, but I had no choice but to continue defending myself.
“I’d like to emphasize that nothing happened between the two of us, in case that has crossed your mind. Mr. Foley would ask me to accompany him to dinner meetings and such. It was strictly business. He told me he preferred not to attend meetings alone, said it looked better to bring someone along with him. It lessened the tension and helped diffuse tempers that easily got heightened during those get-togethers.”
Jessica nodded in acknowledgment. “That’s not uncommon. I do hear that from many of our paralegals and secretaries. Their supervisors take them to meetings and such to take notes, have a witness, etcetera, so I’ll go along with you on that one.” Thank God. “And you’re saying he didn’t expect anything else of you in return?”
Why didn’t she just say what she was thinking: Did you fuck him? Did she not hear me specifically state that nothing happened between me and the asshole?
Ugh. Lying was so not my forte.
“No. Nothing at all.” I shook my head.
“Very well.” She sounded so convincing. Not. “I will speak with Mr. Foley and let him know we had this meeting. After everything that’s transpired, I’m sure you can understand why I can’t and won’t place you in another position. On a personal note, I know what it’s like to have an ill family member and have to pay the costly medical expenses. I empathize with your situation. I wish you the best, Abigail. You are free to seek other employment, but I would prefer you not use Temp Easy as a reference. I want to wipe my hands clean of this situation effective immediately, unless for whatever reason, Mr. Foley has more to add or wants to take his accusations further.”
Perspiration dripped down my neck.
“I’m hopeful Mr. Foley will stop making false accusations period.” He’d better.
“A bit of advice: in the future, try not to mix business with pleasure, if you get my drift. I understand you’re in a bind, but I can tell you from experience that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.”
Even Gabriel?
No. Gabriel was the exception…at least I prayed he was.
“I’ll take your words to heart.” I rose from my chair and moved toward the door.
“I hope your sister gets better.”
I faced her. “Yeah, me too.” Wasn’t that the understatement of the century.
Chapter Twelve
Gabriel
“Wow. Somebody got a lot of work done today.” Everything in the den was organized. Where the hell had she put all her stuff? I’d probably open a closet door and get buried by it tumbling down on me.
“I tried. I didn’t think it was fair for my things to be all over the place, especially when you’re being generous enough to let me stay here temporarily.”
I drew her into my arms. “You’re free to stay as long as you’d like or need.”
Earlier in the day I had spoken with my father. I had a lot of information to pass along to her, but she looked like shit—not physically, of course. “Why do you seem so on edge?”
“I met with my supervisor today. That ass Foley told the temp agency I stole cash from him. Can you believe that? The jerk would want nothing more than to try to frame me for something I didn’t do. He didn’t call the police, imagine that—probably because one, no cash is missing, and two, the last thing a man in his shoes wants is to bring negative attention to himself when he is such a corrupt individual. Trust me, I heard some shady conversations take place when he was on the phone. The man spoke so loudly and never once bothered to shut the door to his office.”
My jaw tightened. “That son of a bitch. Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because you were
at work. I didn’t want to disturb you with all the craziness taking place in my life. Jessica, my supervisor, told me I no longer have a job and can’t use Temp Easy as a reference. Yup, good times had by all.” She scrunched her face. “She said she was going to contact Foley to let him know she met with me. If he tries to stir more shit up, I’m screwed.”
“He’s such a dirtbag, which brings me to another point. I have some interesting information to share with you about Foley.” I took her hand and led her to the sofa, where we sat down facing each other.
“What kind of information?”
She thinks her interest is piqued now? Just wait.
“You mentioned he’s a developer who wants a piece of property he and another developer are fighting over. When you told me what each one wants to do with it, I had a hunch and went with my gut. I called my father during lunch today. It’s a small world, Abby—the man you and Foley had dinner with last night was my dad.”
Her jaw fell open. “What? Edward is your father? How can this be? The man who joined us had a young blonde with him. His hands were all over her—or rather, her hands were all over him. Same difference.” She motioned with her hand to get her point across.
“That sounds about right. When I spoke with him, he left that part out, but it doesn’t surprise me. My father loves younger women. I don’t ask, but he tells anyway. It’s a screwed-up situation. Anyhow, back to my point: my father had dinner with Foley last night because Foley is trying to convince him to stop the bidding war over a lucrative piece of property that’s for sale.”
“Why didn’t you tell me your father was a developer?”
“It wasn’t relevant until now. What is relevant is that my father hates Foley with a passion. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to outbid Foley for that property, no matter what it costs.”
She dropped her head forward and shook it, squeezing her brow. “I can’t believe Edward is your father. I’m so embarrassed he met me under those circumstances.” She raised her head. “I hope you didn’t tell him I was the woman who accompanied Mr. Foley and am currently staying in your apartment.” Her hand slapped over her mouth.
I removed it and placed it in mine. “Don’t worry about what my father thinks. I know differently.”
She tugged her hand away and cringed. “I do worry, Gabe. What an awful first impression I must have made on him. He probably thinks I’m sleeping with Foley.”
“It’s not important what he thinks.”
“It is to me. My God, how will I ever be able to face him?”
“In all honesty, my dad got a good laugh at the situation.”
She covered her face with both hands. “Now I’m even more humiliated. This is awful.”
“You don’t understand. The reason he got a good laugh is because he can’t believe the woman I’m dating works for Foley—well, worked for Foley, past tense. He thinks it’s a brilliant coincidence.”
Her body slouched on the sofa. “He probably thinks I’m some low-class bimbo who gave Foley my body for money.”
“He doesn’t give a shit one way or another, but if it makes you feel better, I assured him nothing happened between the two of you.”
“This situation is getting worse by the minute. All I wanted to do was help Irma. As a result, my life has turned into a complete shambles. And here I believed in karma, thought doing good things brought goodness in return.”
“Hey, we met each other because of this situation, so I’m all about karma right now. Foley will get what’s coming to him. Don’t you worry about that.”
She sighed. “How’s that?”
“My father was so happy to hear about your existence in my life. He wants to meet us for dinner in an hour.” I glanced at my phone, not wanting us to run late. “He’s hoping you might be able to give him some intel on Foley.”
“What? I can’t face your father after last night!” She bolted off the couch, somewhat hobbling, her nerves on full display. “I looked like a hooker, for gosh sakes. I’m so ashamed of myself.” Her head fell forward.
I approached her and tilted her chin up so she could see the sincerity in my eyes. “You looked beautiful to me.”
She softened. “From the mouth of someone who said I’m killing him. You’ve already buried me ten times over with your compassion.”
I smiled wide at her compliment. Maybe I could do this feelings shit after all.
“I speak the truth.”
“I’m glad. Still, I’m mortified.”
“You did nothing wrong. I explained that to my father. Besides, you’re worried about him judging you? You said yourself the woman he brought with him to dinner had her hands all over him, probably just another one of his skanky dates.”
She lifted her shoulder. “I hate to admit it, but she really was trashy. Pretty, but trashy.”
“I don’t doubt it, but I’d rather not hear any specifics. He’s always been that type of man. If it’s any consolation, I didn’t inherit his genes for cheating and shit. I don’t follow that belief.”
“Cheating?”
I sat back down on the couch.
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
“I’m sorry.” She sat next to me.
“Don’t be. He and I are two different people.”
“He can’t be all bad, Gabe. He made you.”
My eyes shot to hers. I took her hand in mine and kissed the back of it.
“So what information does your father think I have on Foley? I don’t know anything. We never spoke about his plans.”
“You said you overheard his phone conversations and said he’s corrupt. That’s the type of information my dad wants to hear about.”
“I get his motivation and all, but the last thing I want right now is to make my situation worse, if that’s at all even possible. As it is, I’m out of a job. If Foley finds out I’m going behind his back, who knows what he’ll try to do to me? I’m not willing to risk my safety for that.”
“Foley’s not going to bother you anymore. After he loses out on this deal, he’ll leave town. My father said he’s only here to try to intimidate him and to continue organizing other projects he has in the works. He’s not going to want to bring attention to himself. Besides, once you’ve got my dad in your corner, anyone who’s against you has no hope.”
Sheer horror overtook her. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“My father owns Harcourt Enterprises. It’s one of the largest development companies in the country. The headquarters are based here. The job I mentioned I’d be taking soon is for my father.”
She stared at me, mouth open. “What? Your family owns Harcourt Enterprises? Holy shit, Gabe. I thought you said you work in finance, not property development.”
“I do. I’ll work in the finance department of his company. My brother and I are both major shareholders. I didn’t mention it to you before because it’s not news I brag about or throw around freely unless I know someone well and know their intentions for getting involved with me. Too many people see me as a walking dollar sign. I didn’t want you to view me that way.”
“I don’t. I hope you would never think that of me.”
“I wouldn’t, and I don’t. You had no clue about my financial background when we met, so it’s a nonissue.”
“This is big stuff…as in huge.” She made a ball shape with her hands to emphasize her point. “I have a question for you.”
“Shoot.”
“Why didn’t you work for your father after getting your MBA? Why bother to work for someone else if you’re a shareholder in his company?”
“A stipulation of working for my father has always been that my brother, Davey, and I earn our MBAs then be employed by someone other than him for a specified period of time beforehand. That goes without exception. My old man isn’t into the whole entitlement thing. He worked hard to get where he is and wants me and my brother to as well. My time is soon approaching. At that point, money won’t be an issue for me any longe
r.”
“This is a lot to take in.”
“Why?” I didn’t see what the big deal was. I had money—so what? She should have been jumping up and down for joy—not literally, of course, because her ankle still wasn’t a hundred percent.
“You’re telling me your father owns a national company, he’s in a bidding war over a piece of property with Mr. Foley, who your father wants me to give him intel about, and you’re going to help your father run the company, which you’re a part owner of. This is insane. I don’t come from that kind of background, Gabe. My father took off with another woman ages ago, never to be heard from again. My mother goes to church every chance she gets. After my father left, she became obsessed with prayer. I guess it was her way of coping with the shock of him cheating on her and basically abandoning us. Irma became ill shortly afterward, and my mother made me share the responsibility of caring for my sister.”
“Like I said before, that was a very selfish burden to put on you.”
“My mother has always been selfish, at least with me she has, but I did what I had to do without complaining because in the end, all I cared about was helping my sister get better. Do you know my mother has never said I love you or told me I was a good daughter? At least not that I can remember. On the contrary, she would tell me how sinful I was, would tell me no man would ever want me. She’d say my body should be covered because of my shape, and let me not leave out the physical assaults when she was at her wits’ end. I sucked it all up for the sake of Irma.”
Christ. My heart ached for Abby, literally hurt.
“My mother took all of her frustration out on me.”
I scooted closer to her in silence, humbled she was opening up and sharing these intimate details about her life but dismayed that she’d endured such a horrific childhood.
“My grandmother was the one person who really got me, who understood me.” She wrapped her hand around the locket dangling from her necklace. “She gave me this locket before she passed away as a reminder that I should remain strong. I have, and I’ll continue to do so.”