32. Matthew
32
MATTHEW
C assie and I sat wordlessly, watching Audrey slowly approach Olivia’s grave. Cass commented that it was similar to how she trapped her stray cats.
My phone beeped with a text from Silas.
Meet me in my office tomorrow. It’s urgent.
After replying to Silas’s message, assuring him that I’d be there first thing, I figured now was as good a time as any to fill Cassie in as to what was happening with Wyatt and the company. She knew I had taken a sabbatical of sorts but was in the dark about the details.
After getting through all the nitty gritty specifics of Wyatt’s alleged crimes, I looked to Cassie and fully expected her to tell me, “I told you so.”
Instead, she just shook her head, her lips forming a thin line. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry?” I questioned. “Why the fuck are you sorry?”
I had given up everything for this family. This fucked-up family. I was the one who had so much to be sorry for.
Cassie sat quietly for a moment, chewing the inside of her cheek. I caressed it, trying to calm her nerves.
“I’m sorry they weren’t who you needed them to be,” she said after a moment. “You deserve better. You always did.”
I looked at her with such admiration and love. Even after everything my family and I had put her through, Cassie was still the same pure-hearted girl I met in foster care. She had an ability to love like I’d never known.
Cassie saw my worth when I didn’t. She always made me feel like my scars, both external and internal, weren't important. Now was my turn to show her the same.
“You’re everything I need. And I’ll spend forever trying to deserve you.”
She crushed her lips to mine. “I love you,” she whispered.
My phone started to ring, breaking the trance we were in. I groaned when I saw the name on the screen. “Hello,” I answered, my voice devoid of any emotion. My father had interesting timing considering the previous text I received. My paranoid ass would have to check if the phone was bugged.
“Matthew, I hope you didn’t forget about the anniversary party on Friday. Your mother is beside herself that you only called once since that temper tantrum of yours at the shareholders’ dinner. You do know she has a bad heart, don’t you?” Wyatt reprimanded, clearing his throat.
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I said neutrally, completely ignoring Wyatt’s digs. I couldn’t blow up about everything Cassie had told me until I met with Silas and we devised a plan on how to handle the shell corp.
I did call Liz to catch up with her last week, and I had also sent a text to Rowena to check on how Liz’s health was faring. Wyatt must not have known about those interactions.
“You better be. And when will you be returning to the office? I have to say, I’m disgusted with your lack of work ethic.” Wyatt blew out a breath, and I could picture him rolling his eyes.
“I’ll have to get back to you on that. Oh, you know what, I have another call coming in. Holden’s getting married soon and needs my help. Great talk.” I hung up the phone quickly, shoving it in my pocket.
I knew that we had some difficult times ahead between Wyatt’s nefarious business dealings and my parents meddling in my love life with Cassie. Not to mention how unfairly Cassie was treated in my world. I had a lot of uncomfortable conversations and decisions to make.
Despite it all, I looked over at Cassie and couldn’t help but smile.
This was what life was supposed to be like. Happy.
The next morning, I pried myself away from Cassie’s naked body, giving her a lingering kiss goodbye.
“Lunch at the restaurant or back here?” Cassie called.
I was tying the shoelaces on my tennis shoes. Suit and dress shoes be damned until I really needed to bust them out.
“Here. And I want dessert.” I winked and blew her a kiss. My eyes were glued to her as she plopped back on the pillow, throwing the covers over her body, and I willed myself to leave. This meeting was a good enough reason for us to be temporarily apart, but I couldn’t wait to be back in bed with her body under my own.
With a quick goodbye to Rocky, I was out the door and calling Holden to make sure he was still meeting me at Silas’s office. Since Holden found the incriminating evidence on Wyatt, I figured he’d want to see it through.
“Come in and shut the door,” Silas instructed, peering out into the hallway. His desk was overflowing with papers, and the once put-together man looked disheveled and as though he hadn’t slept.
Holden and I exchanged concerned looks, entering the office and taking seats in front of Silas’s desk.
“Gentlemen, I’ve done some digging, and I’ve found quite a bit of disturbing information.” Silas broached the sensitive subject, running his fingers through his gray locks.
“What did you find?” My eyes widened. I couldn’t imagine what could be worse than what Wyatt had already done. Framing his brother-in-law and trying to pay off his son’s girlfriend were two of his largest offenses.
“I must tell you that it's unpleasant and quite upsetting,” Silas warned, waiting for objections. “After speaking with Wyatt’s banks in the Caymans, posing as an assistant, I uncovered the fact that not only has Wyatt framed Parker should the money laundering be discovered, but he also has put Liz’s name on multiple life insurance policies. Upon her death, all those funds would go to the corporation.” Silas sat back in his chair.
“So not only will he profit immensely when Liz dies, he’s gearing up for the shell corp to be his main source of income, funneling funds through it,” I clarified, my mind whirring with just how deceitful and treacherous my adoptive father was.
Silas nodded. “Also you should know that Adams Point is in ruins. The reports showing these massive earnings and gains are all simulations. Fakes. The sole investor truly profiting is someone with the initials A.A.H. Do you know anybody with those initials?” The older man poured a fresh cup of coffee, offering us a cup as well.
Holden nodded his head in thanks when Silas handed him one, while I thought about the initials in my head. Why did they sound so familiar?
“A.A.H.,” I recited out loud over and over again. A moment passed, and it all hit me like a ton of bricks. “The fucking prick,” I whispered in disbelief, letting out a scoff.
“What is it, Matthew?” Silas inquired.
“Can I use your computer for a second?”
Silas got up from his chair, motioning for me to sit.
I went to Google and typed in a name I should have known would have been attached to this disaster. I chuckled in disgust when the search results popped up.
Turning the computer screen for Silas and Holden to see, I spoke up, “Arthur Anthony Harris.” Wyatt’s best friend. Arthur was the person who helped me get into Princeton. I should have known he was in cahoots with Wyatt—they were thick as thieves.
I sucked my teeth, so fucking pissed at Wyatt. “He’s our smoking gun.”
“Holy shitballs!” Holden spat out his coffee all over the office, covering Silas and me in the spittle.