15. Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Harvey
The next day, I’m in my office, wrestling with the printer. I’ve already fed the same stack of paper through three times, and it’s still flashing that infuriating ‘paper jam’ message. My fingers are smudged with toner, and no matter how many trays I slide out or panels I open, I can’t figure out where it’s stuck. It’s pissing me off. Why can’t I figure out something so basic?
“Molly!” I call out. “Can you come in here for a sec?”
She’s at my door in seconds, one eyebrow raised, amusement tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Printer win this round?”
“Don’t start,” I mutter, stepping aside to let her work her magic. She kneels down, pops open a panel I’d checked twice already, and with a flick of her fingers, pulls out a crumpled sheet of paper. She holds it up. “This what you’re looking for?” she teases as she shakes the paper.
“Yes. Thanks,” I mutter.
Flashing a smirk, she walks away, and I just stand there, giving the printer a hard look like it’s about to be replaced.
I shake it off and turn my attention back to the invoices on my desk. Several transactions on these invoices don’t add up, and they’re dated before Jemima's time. I need to sort through the final few papers, but I’ve got one of my guys investigating, as it looks like embezzlement. I don’t want to worry Jemima; she seems so fucking fragile. Last night, I just wanted to kiss her and make her forget all her troubles.
This morning, I’m pretty sure she’s avoiding me. She hasn’t told Molly, because if Molly knew, she’d be looking at me differently, as she wears her expressions openly. Jemima, on the other hand, isn’t so easy to read. But when I almost kissed her, her facade dropped, and her eyes shimmered with pure lust and longing.
It’s nine o’clock, and Jemima is late. So I send her a text.
Harvey: Are you avoiding me?
Jemima: No. I’m not a child.
I smirk as I type back.
Harvey: So, you want to repeat what almost happened in the kitchen last night?
Jemima: I was delusional. Must have been the food.
Harvey: Yeah, you seem to like me better when you’re not hungry.
Jemima: I’m on my way in. See you soon.
I tuck my phone away as I enter the bathroom, but then I see Danny fumbling. His shirt sleeves are rolled up past his elbows, and he drops something. I spot it before he can hide it… A needle.
Drugs? Is he fucking kidding?
“What are you doing?” I demand.
“This isn’t mine; I’m cleaning up,” he says defensively.
“Funny, I saw the cleaner last night, and she didn’t look like a druggie.”
“And I do?” Danny raises his voice.
His agitation is evidence of guilt.
“Yeah, actually, you do.” I shift my gaze to his arms.
He quickly throws away the needle and adjusts his shirt sleeves.
“You think you can come in here, throw money around, and take over,” he snaps.
His accusation and rapid breathing tell me he’s struggling with addiction, and his jittery body language and sheen of sweat on his forehead don’t help either.
“Jealousy is a bad trait,” I counter.
Danny snorts. “I’m not jealous of you.”
“You’d have money if you didn’t blow it on drugs.”
“I don’t do drugs.”
“Denial won’t help you.”
He stares at me, the wheels turning in his head before his head and voice drop. “Don’t tell Jemima,” he pleads.
“Prove to me you’re worth keeping around, then. If it were up to me, you’d be gone.”
“I’ve been here for ten years.”
“And probably using the entire fucking time, hiding behind the ‘family friend’ card.”
“What are you going to do?” Danny's voice wobbles as he realizes the implications.
I rub my jaw, thinking, my eyes narrowing as I consider my response. “I don’t know yet.”
He straightens up, determination etched in his face. “I’ll work harder than before, and I’ll stop using.”
I shake my head slightly, feeling frustration rising. “Don’t lie. You won’t give up shit, but at least take your job seriously for Jemima's sake. She only sees the good in you.”
Piece of shit. This is going to devastate her. Another person letting her down.
He leaves, and I lean on the sink, needing a second to think. Telling Jemima about Danny's secret will crush her. I need to protect her. I need to get rid of him without her knowing. I need to shield her from the truth. “Fuck!” I slam my hands on the sink.
Pulling out my phone, I call my private investigator, who informs me it was Danny who made the account errors and embezzled money. He found discrepancies between physical cash count and recorded amounts, creating fake vendors with unusual details, unusual check numbers and error in bank account numbers. He will send me an email with the proof.
I fucking knew something was up with him.
Marching into my office, I scan the email and then the papers I found with the questionable transactions. The sloppy bastard left his trail all through it. It’s so fucking obvious now.
The first thing I do is hide the papers. Carefully, I tuck them away, and then transfer some of my money back into the business account in various amounts, referencing them with invoice numbers so she can track them if she asks.
With this, and some new jobs, she’ll soon be back on her feet. She could finally afford to rent in the good neighborhood.
Danny knows about Chad. Realization hits me hard as I connect the dots; the last name on one of these transactions match with her ex-husbands. As Molly takes a call, I slip into Danny’s office and close the door behind me.
“You were friends with her filthy fucking ex, weren’t you?” I hiss.
His head snaps up from his phone, where he was lost in yet another social media platform, scrolling. Of course, he wasn’t working.
The expression on my face must be lethal because he’s shrinking back in his chair, nodding like a frightened child, misty-eyed as he starts to pack his shit. My hands curl into fists, the urge to hit him strong, but my father always taught us that fists weren’t the answer. I’ve never been this tempted. Not until him.
“I need you to leave and never come back.”
“I can’t.”
I step closer, aiming for his weak spot. “How much do you want?”
I’m willing to pay him whatever it takes to make him disappear. If I call the cops, it’ll lead to a drawn-out court case, and Jemima will have to go through that for months, not to mention the legal fees. Plus, if it blows up in the media, it could damage her reputation. Even though she’s innocent, the scrutiny would drag her name through the mud. She’s just starting to get back on her feet, and I won’t let anything tarnish that.
I’m willing to pay him whatever it takes to get rid of him.
“I… I don’t know.”
I pull out my phone and show him a number. Ten thousand dollars. His eyes widen.
“Yes, that will work.” He nods vehemently.
I transfer the money to his account as he rattles off the details.
“You’ll leave while she and I are out at a meeting at eleven. Don’t tell Molly. Just take your shit and go.”
He remains motionless, but I don’t wait. I need to leave his office before Jemima turns up for work. I also need time to calm down, so she won’t suspect anything.
Pausing at the door, I turn back for a final word. “If I find you here when I get back, I’ll take all the evidence I have on you to the police.”
“I’ll be gone before you return.”
Adrenaline rushes through my veins as I open the door, leave his office, and march back to mine. Needing a distraction, I bury myself in the final few piles of work now that the major issue is dealt with. I don’t know how much time has passed, but I hear the sound of shoes clicking and female voices approaching. I’m still irritated but not as much as before. I turn to my emails, working through them, and once I catch up, I get up to find her.
Despite knowing she’s avoiding me—even if she denies it—I’m feeling much lighter knowing I’m about to see her.
She’s in the break room, talking to Molly. I wander in and make myself a coffee from the new machine I had ordered. She hasn’t commented on it yet, but I don’t think she’ll complain since it benefits her too.
“Mornin’,” I greet them.
Molly beams a cheerful “good morning,” while Jemima avoids my gaze, mumbling, “morning” into her coffee cup.
“Did Chad like the pie?” I ask.
“Yeah, he did. Thanks,” she murmurs again.
She’s being awkward, and it seems Molly's noticed too, as her head tilts as she glances between us.
“Do we need to discuss anything before we head out?” I ask.
Just then, Danny enters the room. His eyes widen, and he looks ready to bolt until Jemima speaks.
“Hey, Danny. I got a new job this morning. Did you want to come?”
My whole body tenses as I glare at him. He gets the message and replies with a tight smile. “No, I have work to finish up here.”
“Alright. What are you working on?” Jemima asks.
He looks around, panicked. Fucking hell, keep it together, you moron.
“Is it a new job?” I offer.
“No, closing one,” he rushes out in a panic.
“Awesome,” Jemima says.
Before she can ask more questions that lead to him stumbling through more lies, I cut in.
“Do you want a drink?” I try to sound pleasant so the girls wouldn’t pick up on anything, but my jaw is unintentionally tight.
“No, I’m good,” Danny mutters, almost running out of the room.
Molly leaves with her coffee, so I don’t ask her anything. Jemima beams. “This week is turning around for us.”
“Maybe I’m not so bad,” I whisper, leaning closer.
She shudders at my nearness, but quickly retorts, “You wish.”
I chuckle and finish making my coffee as she leaves, and I call after her. “I’ll see you in half an hour so we can leave?”
“Unfortunately,” she murmurs.