17
Emma’s head whipped toward the blinds at the front of the main office. Was that a shadow? Her nerve endings readied to fight or flee.
“Do you have a trip charge?” the customer asked, her voice muffled through the receiver.
“Yes, we do.” Emma tore her gaze from the window and back to the computer. “But it’s waived if we perform the work.” She gripped the phone tighter. How was she answering mundane questions when she was stuck in a horror movie. “I could squeeze you in on Friday afternoon.” Office manager mode kicked in to seal the appointment. She recited times and procedures through her life fog, ever the professional, swallowing the fear numbing her brain.
Hanging up the phone, she crossed her arms on the counter and rested her head on the fleshy cushion. God, how could You let this happen to me? I didn’t steal anyone’s money. You know the truth. I know the truth. How do I convince the world I’m not a criminal?
She prayed Wade’s attorney knew someone to take her case, or take the money, and let her disappear into anonymity. If she left the Nashville area, she’d have to leave Wade. Her stomach hollowed at the thought. What would she do without the man who gave her heart flutters and made her feel like Superwoman battling bad guys and soaring into the sky? Thank You, Lord, for the man who restored my confidence and became a friend. Sam was still her best friend. Wade was fast becoming her best more-than-a-friend. Just thinking about Wade gave her encouragement to get out of bed in the morning. Even electrical quotes became interesting when he spent time with her explaining the system. Did he share the same attraction? She hoped so or she’d be back doubting her worth and intuition.
“Emma.”
Wade stood in the doorway to the office. The off-white counter contained more color than his features. Had he struck out on attorneys?
“I have a name of a lawyer in the city. A friend of a friend.” Not one ounce of enthusiasm buoyed Wade’s message. Was he still in shock? “He can see you tonight.”
An audible sigh whooshed past her lips. Finally, some good news. “Thank You, Jesus.” And thank you, Wade. Her handsome protector. A millstone of worry lifted from her shoulders. “I didn’t know who to call next if you came up empty. Sam has an attorney who handled Ted’s estate. I think white-collar crime might be out of his league.” She rubbed her forehead feeling that spark of hope that God would have this problem solved by midnight.
“I have something else I need to tell you.” Wade fidgeted like a toddler with a full bladder.
“Legal advice?” Of course, he’d share any wisdom he had on the matter. Wade had been running the company a while and would want to help. She almost bounded out of the chair to kiss him. “I’ll take all the free counsel I can get.”
He nodded and braced an arm on the threshold. Leaning into his stance, his face wrinkled. Was he worried for her? God had blessed her with such a kind friend. Friend was an understatement. She knew it, and he knew it. Heat rose in her cheeks.
“You can’t work here anymore.”
The warmth in her cheeks chilled. Did she hear him right? Or was he joking—a worst-case to better-case scenario. “Don’t tease me.”
“I’m not. You have to leave right now.” The words were coming from Wade’s mouth but not a hint of emotion flashed across his face. He might as well have been reciting an answering service message. Did he not care about her? Appreciate all she had done for him and his business? What about all the time they had spent together? Didn’t it mean anything to him?
Her hands clenched, and she rose from her desk, fighting to control the anger surging through her body. “Why? Why do I have to leave?” She had projects to finish and people to help. She’d never left work undone. Ever. Didn’t Wade understand her by now? Her life was freefalling and the person she relied on to hold the safety net gave the impression he was ready to bolt through the nearest exit. Traitor!
“It was our attorney’s advice. Once he knew about Ron’s money…” Wade paused. He held out his hand, but as fast as a glimmer of hope registered in her brain that he might regret this as much as she, Wade cupped a fist with his open hand. A weird guttural sound disturbed the silence in the office. She would have gladly filled the stillness, but her mind blanked. If he was fighting for some resemblance of sanity, or decency, or a future, he had forfeited the match. And sacrificed their relationship. A weird stinging settled behind her eyes. The kind of feeling you get when something good has been lost for eternity.
“I should never have handed you that drive. I had no idea…” How could something that she was so proud of torpedo her happiness. Lord, why did he have to ask for my software? Why now? Ron had victimized her again.
Wade avoided her gaze. His shoes were more interesting than his office mate. Mate. That was a mirage. “The attorney also texted that you probably shouldn’t wear our business shirts.” Wade’s hand fell from a scrub of his jaw and hung lifeless at his side. “I’m so sorry.”
Who was this man standing before her? She thought he was someone special that God had brought into her life. Men who cared about you didn’t fire you on the spot and demand you dispose of their shirt? If she had a change of clothes, she would throw this one in his heartless face. He knew she wasn’t a threat, didn’t he? At least, deep down. Her future with him was going through her internal shredding machine. She had been scammed again. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin as if this was a performance review. In a way, it was. Her new beginning was over. Dead. Wade had sprayed weed killer on any budding romantic dreams.
“Don’t worry. I think I can solve the association problem right now.” She yanked open the desk drawer and removed a roll of thick gray tape. She tore a strip with her teeth and slapped it over the Donoven and Sons name and their emblem. “This will work temporarily.”
“I don’t want to do this, but I’ve worked hard to build this business. People count on me.” He shuffled closer, staying out of reach. The sparks of personality that she had coaxed out of Wade had vanished, leaving an unrecognizable husk of a man. “I can’t unhear my attorney. I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t.” She held up a hand to stop him from coming any closer. “If you apologize one more time, I will throw whatever quarter container is around, against that wall.” She jabbed a finger at the wall closest to his body. “It’s not a funny joke anymore.” The truth in that statement was almost laughable.
Remembering time spent with Wade driving in the van, at Ms. Johnson’s home, and dancing round and round threatened to crack the levy behind her eyes. She couldn’t cry. Not in front of him. If he was going into business mode then so would she.
“Text me where I need to go. I will drive you home and leave the van at your parents’ house. I can call a shared ride to the attorney’s office. Before we leave, I’ll send an invoice for time served.” She’d pat herself on the back for the pun, but in reality, she’d need every penny to pay for legal expenses.
“Em—”
She knew he was fighting another apology. Fighting to say something to bridge the harshness of being a boss. Simply fighting an impossible situation. But her heart and ears couldn’t listen.
Even filled with remorse he looked good. Too good. She’d sort that out later when her heart had scabbed and healed.
“Don’t worry. My family owns a business.” For the first time in her life, she disliked that statement. Oh, to simply be na?ve and clueless. “I came to Tennessee so their livelihood wouldn’t be impacted by my scandal. I like your family.” She fought the shed of a tear with all her fortitude. “I don’t want them impacted by my negative press.” She finger quoted her negativity.
Her boss mirrored the glum oaf she met on their first pizza night. “It’s not like that.”
“Yeah, Wade. It kind of is.” She forced a smile, but even she knew her mouth resembled a dead catfish. “I’ll be in the waiting room when you’re ready.” Reading old magazines, guarding millions in stolen cash, and bandaging her barely beating heart.
She brushed by Wade using her backpack as a barrier and strode the hallway until she found an upholstered chair close to an exit. She needed the distance to pull herself together. Ugh, Wade followed her.
“You can’t share a ride with strangers.” He glanced at the windows and leaned closer, leaving a few feet between them. “That other woman is still on the loose, and you have information on that drive. Crypto, too. Drive me home in a van but take my truck to the attorney’s office.”
“You’re going to let me drive your truck? Oh, that’s right. You have an auto policy for that liability.” Was she being too hard on him? She’d process that later because her brain was short circuiting at the moment.
He nodded and returned to the office, shuffling like he had aged two decades.
Finding the flash drive of Ron’s accounts had spiraled their Monday into an abyss.
She slipped her phone from her pocket and texted Sam. How did she begin to explain her latest predicament?
NEED PRAYER AND GUIDANCE.
After a few minutes, she received a response.
HANG ON. I’LL CALL.
Her life verse scrolled through her mind. The Lord was her rock, her fortress, and her deliverer.
Somehow her favorite Scripture wasn’t cutting it today. Because if her precious cactus, Herbie, was in the chair next to her with the rock etched with the opening to Psalm 18:2, she might just hurl him at the wall.
“Jesus, where are you? My world continues to fall apart, and there’s no bottom in sight.”
~*~
Wade resisted the urge to grip the hand hold on his side of the service van as Emma barreled toward his house. All his muscles stood on high alert. Not because he feared another car crash, but because he had hurt someone special, and he couldn’t apologize without infuriating her.
“Don’t worry.” Emma’s features were as blank as copier paper. “I’m not granny driving, but I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re burning through office managers like a short wick.”
Her snark was pure Emma. He couldn’t blame her for being mad. If possible, he’d run away from himself.
“Thank you.”
She didn’t acknowledge his words. Worse off, she hardly acknowledged him as they tore through town. Even with all his electrician skills, there was no rewiring this relationship.