Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Valerie
My forensic audit of Rustic Delights took on a whole new life after seeing my father at the restaurant.
I spent the next two days poring over the books and invoices and calling suppliers to verify purchase orders.
I went down to R he was the love of my life. “It’s complicated.” What else could I say.
“Can you tell us about it? I don’t want you to violate any confidentiality between you and Lucas, but we can’t help if we don’t know what’s going on,” Emma commented.
I sat back in the booth and thought for a moment. How did I feel about talking? I needed to talk about this. Besides, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to say anything they didn’t already know about Lucas and his sister. As for me loving Lucas… They probably already knew that too.
“Okay, here’s what happened.” I laid out the whole family event and then my talk with Lucas about his sister.
I didn’t leave out how I could have handled both situations better and that I let my own insecurities and fears get between us.
Of course, he didn’t take it well, and then this week he left without even telling me.
By the time I was finished, we’d all finished our food. Exhaustion flowed through me. And pain. Pain at allowing Lucas to steal my heart once again. Pain that I’d probably never get the chance to tell him that. But I really had no one to blame but myself.
“To top it off, I only have a few days left on the job.” Once I had the meeting with John Boyd, I only had to wrap things up and bring Lucas up to speed.
My job was done. My gut tightened. I didn’t want to leave, but I couldn’t stay either.
I had a job to return to, and hanging around with Lucas would only make me more miserable.
“You found the issue?” Cassie asked.
“And then some. I can’t discuss it. I’m meeting with Mr. Boyd tomorrow morning.”
“Got it.” Emma placed her hand on the table. “As for Lucas, I’ve noticed his need to be responsible for his sister.”
“I get it,” I said. “He raised her, but there comes a time he needs to become her brother and not her parent.” I didn’t mean to sound so harsh.
I’d been on my own for so long, with parents who didn’t really care about me as a person, was it possible that had warped my understanding of what Lucas did for Mindy?
Cassie tapped her lips. “Lucas is uber responsible. Did you know that, in the staff meeting when the problems with Rustic first surfaced, he apologized and took responsibility for it, saying he should have seen the issues before they surfaced?”
“But there was no way he could have known until he looked at their books.”
“That’s Lucas,” Cassie commented. “He wears responsibility on his shoulders like a sweater.”
I stopped breathing. Cassie was right. Lucas was a fixer. Someone who felt they had to right all the wrongs.
“I will say I hope you confronting him about his relationship with his sister makes him think long and hard about what’s important,” Cassie continued.
“What do you mean?” I was beginning to see things clearer now that my emotions were out of the way.
“Why did he suddenly take off to see his sister? Did she need his help? Or did he realize he needed to speak with her?” Cassie asked.
“I’m guessing both,” Emma commented.
I stared at these two women. “I didn’t think about that.” Miles had said that Lucas had a family emergency, and naturally, I assumed Mindy needed him. Had she? Could it have been one of his absent parents?
“And what you said about your sister flirting with Lucas. He wanted nothing to do with her and rebuffed her at every turn. He doesn’t want anyone but you.
” Cassie reached across the table and rested her hand on mine.
“Valerie, stop looking at the past. Yes, your sister is a piece of work, and so are your parents, but Lucas cares for you. We can all see it.”
“Really?” Why was I still doubting him? Or myself?
“It’s true.” Emma’s voice was firm. “I’ve watched Lucas with you. Valerie, that man is smitten. Heck, give him a chance, and I bet he’ll propose.”
My heart jumped, but I didn’t get my hopes up. “What if Lucas only feels responsible for me too?” That was my biggest worry. I didn’t want to become another one of his obligations.
“Girl, you got duty on the mind.”
“But he told me he felt burdened for what happened in the past. And, well—” I paused, wondering how much I could tell Cassie and Emma.
Oh, hell, they were my friends, right? “How do I explain this? He’s always doing things like always opening car doors, making sure I’m safe, etc.
Like I can’t be reliable to do it myself. ”
Cassie chortled and patted Valerie’s arm. “Honey, haven’t you noticed? All our men are like that. It’s in their nature. What you call responsibility, I call caring.”
“Of course they care.” Emma waved her hand in the air. “That doesn’t mean Lucas feels obligated to you. Lucas cares for you, and in that caring, there is some accountability. Trust me on that. Asher is like that.”
“In what way?” I asked, trying to understand.
“The first time we met, my boyfriend dumped me at a party. Asher said hi to me but got pulled away, and when he came back to make sure I was all right, I was gone. He told me he felt at fault I left because he got pulled away. I shut him down on that right away. I left because I didn’t belong there. ”
“And Marcus. That man tries more often than not to make up for the things my father did. I have to remind him that my father is the only one in charge of his actions. My father was an asshole, and I’m glad he’s out of my life.
Marcus is totally different, even if he is a dominant man. ” Cassie grinned.
“Okay, I get it.” I did. I glanced at my watch. “Oh my goodness, it’s almost three.”
“We’ve been here a while and probably should get back to the office, or our guys will worry about us,” Emma said, opening her purse.
“True,” Cassie added.
We paid the bill and walked back to the office. I didn’t have any more work to do today, so instead of going back upstairs, I went straight to my car and drove home.
Cassie and Emma had given me a lot to think about, and tomorrow wasn’t going to be an easy day.
* * *
“Good morning, Valerie,” John Boyd said as I walked into his office the next morning.
“Mr. Boyd.” My fingers tightened around the folder in my hand. I hadn’t slept well last night, and that wasn’t a surprise. My thoughts kept chasing themselves around in my brain. I was no closer to an answer about Lucas and our relationship, but I had to put that aside for now.
“Call me John, please. Sit down and tell me what you found.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.
“Thank you.” I sat and placed the folder on the desk in front of me.
My gut churned, but this had to be done.
“I want to tell you upfront this isn’t going to be pretty.
In my opinion, if you still want to acquire Rustic, it would be a risk and take more time and money than you might be willing to invest.”
“It’s that bad?” John leaned forward.
“Unfortunately.” I opened the folder and handed him the summary I’d created. “That’s the overview. This week, I found the accountant is embezzling from the company, showing full payments to vendors for substandard material.”
“Not good,” John said, looking over the report. “Not good at all.”
“The accountant is funneling the money to a couple of companies.” I swallowed. The next part was going to destroy lives. I shouldn’t care, but obligations to my employer, the client, ethics, and the law took precedence.
“I see. Did you figure out who those companies belong to?”
“Yes.” I took a deep breath. “Bernard Ray Enterprises.”
“Bernard Ray? Your father?”
“Yes, sir. I had no idea, but I won’t blame you if you want me to leave right now and have another forensic accountant brought in to check my work.”
John shook his head. “Valerie, you come highly recommended. Coming to me with this when your father’s involved tells me you have integrity. I respect that.”
“Thank you. This will be need to be reported to your legal department and the proper authorities so they can take action.”
“Agreed. I’ll call Legal and get the ball rolling.”
“Good.”
“Please send your full report on to Legal. Will you be in the office if they have questions?”
“I’ll send it the minute I get back to my desk.
As for staying, today might be my last day depending on what your corporate lawyers decide.
I’ve more or less finished my job here at Fantasies, Inc.
” I stood. A lead ball had formed in my stomach at the thought of leaving, but as I’d said, my job was done.
“I understand. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.” John stood and held out his hand. “You’ve been a good fit here at Fantasies, Inc. We’re sorry to see you go. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
I shook his hand. “Thank you.” I walked out and went back to the office. There wasn’t much for me to do, but I needed to be available just in case. The shit was about to hit the fan.
I wish Lucas was here.