Episode 58
Episode 58
Endgame
JULIANNE
The limo pulled up to FM Enterprises and idled at the curb. I looked down at the last text my husband had sent me about grilling me dinner later tonight. I smiled as I thought about what he might make. Back when our families used to spend every summer together at the lake house, Gio would stand next to his father Valentino—or Val as we all called him—and watch him grill. Val enjoyed feeding his family by his own hand. We all had cooks for a lot of the day-to-day needs, but when Val was home, his Italian roots took over. The man’s love language was food. He was as good at cooking as he was at running a company, something his son had also inherited from the Falco gene pool.
I tucked my phone into my purse and got out of the car. With as much confidence as I could muster, I put one stiletto in front of the other and power walked into the building that had been as much my home as where I’d grown up. Now with proof that Mom and Dad’s wills were fake, a lot was going to change. I couldn’t wait to see Bianca and shove it all down her skinny little throat. I hoped she would choke on the news that they had no basis or right to kick me out of the company. And if my brother tried to pull his shit again, I’d tell him to shove it up his pretty boy ass.
With a smile on my face and even more pep in my step, I got onto the elevator and punched the button for the 38th floor. When the doors opened, I waved at the front desk receptionist and strutted down the hall toward my parents’ offices. There had to be something in their files that would give us—me— an inkling as to who would want to hurt them.
Muriel, Gio’s assistant, greeted me as I passed Gio’s empty office. “Hello Ms. Myers-Falco.”
I made a mental note to have Gio go through his parents’ offices, too, though I imagined Muriel had already scoured them, and that woman was nothing if not efficient and meticulous.
“It’s nice to see you in person, Muriel. It’s been ages,” I walked over to her desk and waited for her to come around to the front.
The older woman pulled me into her arms. “How are you holding up, Jules?” Her gray eyes were filled with concern and sadness. Which reminded me that we were all still grieving the loss of not one but four of the leaders of this company. Beside the fact that Gio pulled a Where’s Waldo and disappeared for the past couple months.
I hugged her and then squeezed her shoulders as I let go. “Things are looking up. Every day seems to be better than the last.”
“Agreed. Though the information Mr. Falco has had me researching would suggest otherwise.”
I gave her a compressed smile. “Yeah, that’s definitely a downside, but it gets us much closer to the truth, something we didn’t have before. At least now I know my parents didn’t willingly leave me out of the business.”
“But the suggestion there might be more foul play such as the plane crash…” Muriel shivered, her eyes becoming glassy. The woman clearly missed our parents, and the idea of them being targeted was as abhorrent to her as it was to me.
I reached out and took her hand, giving it a little squeeze. “We’re going to figure all of this out and bring the appropriate parties to justice, one way or another. I genuinely believe the truth will prevail. We just have to dig through the muck to get to it. And having someone as capable as you on the research team is an unbelievable gift. Thank you for your commitment and support. I know you are beloved by my husband, but that love extends from me too.”
Muriel tugged me back into her arms, hugged me tightly, then let go. She pulled a handkerchief from her long billowy sleeve and dabbed at her tears.
“Yes, well, I am happy to be of service in any way you or Mr. Falco need.”
I smiled and nodded. “I’m going to go poke around in my parents’ offices. See if I can make any connections. It’s a longshot, but we’ll never know unless we check.”
“I have looked through some things and set any files, notes, and items of interest on the top of the small conference table in stacks for your review. Do call me if you have any questions or need assistance. I’m going to freshen up and get back to work.”
“Thank you, Muriel.” I waved and continued down the hall that led to my parents’ offices as well as my own and Brenden’s office.
As I approached, I could hear his angry voice coming from his office.
I stopped right before I reached his door. I took a deep breath, pushed my shoulders back, stood as tall as possible, and slid my all-business expression into place. This time, I would not allow Brenden to steamroll me. Not only did I have Giovanni at my back, but I had the forged will as proof things were not as they seemed.
Instead of knocking, I turned the knob and pushed open the door, allowing it to slam against the wall.
Brenden spun around, his phone pressed to his ear. His gaze narrowed, and he barked, “I’ll call you back!” into the phone before hanging up on the person.
“Good morning, Brother. I gather you’ve heard the news from our parents’ lawyers’ office that the will is not only being contested, which you already knew, but that it’s been proven to be a fake. That means the courts are going to review the last several submissions and most likely toss out the one submitted a week before they died.”
“What is your endgame in all of this, Jules? To ruin me?”
“Oh Brother, you’ve already done that all on your own. I didn’t have to lift a finger for you to screw up your life. That all started when you fucked the she-devil at your best friend’s rehearsal dinner. No one told you to stick your dick in crazy, but there you have it.”
“And what about you, huh?” He walked around his desk and sat on the edge, crossing his arms over his chest.
“What about me?”
“You married Giovanni to spite me and Bianca,” he spat with a snarl.
“Hmmm,” I tapped on my bottom lip. “Did I?” I shrugged.
There wasn’t a need to explain what actually happened between me and Gio. Brenden already knew we’d had a thing for one another since we were kids. Brenden being the primary reason we didn’t hook up earlier. Except for the night I lost my virginity, of course. A night no one else knows about. Thinking about Gio saying his ex-girlfriend’s name while in bed with me stung something fierce, but ultimately, we found our way to one another. And I was deeply in love with him, and I knew he was just as gone for me. Nothing my ignorant brother could say would change that.
“You think he married you because he loves you? That he doesn’t pine away for Bianca like some lost puppy? You’d be wrong. Trust me, I have Bianca and it’s better than anything I’ve ever had before.”
I rolled my eyes and pretended to gag. “Please, don’t say the B word, I might throw up.”
“You are so childish, Julianne. Always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“I’m the reason this company has done so well the last few years. Things were winding down as our parents planned for retirement when I graduated college and started working here. All the new high-profile clients that came through our doors with their business and their money, were all brought here by me. What the fuck have you ever done besides schmooze and drink your way through dinners and golf tournaments with the clients I brought in?”
“Please don’t flatter yourself. If I hadn’t spent one-on-one time with them, those men would have taken their money and walked. I nurture the relationships with our clients. I make them feel comfortable giving us their money to invest in business and properties that make them even more. They trust me.”
“Well, that’s going to end because, I hate to tell you, my husband has offered to give me his family’s shares in FM Enterprises. And when the judge reinstates the real will and trust, the one our parents actually signed legally, then I’ll own seventy-five percent, and my first order of business will be having you removed from the company.” I smiled and blinked prettily.
“You wouldn’t! Mom and Dad would roll over in their graves…” he seethed.
Oh, he thinks guilt is going to work on me, after everything he’s done. The man is insane.
“Actually, Mom and Dad have already rolled over based on the way you have treated me . Not to mention, how you fucked over your best friend. Look in the mirror, Brother. The only one you have to blame for your shitty decisions is you, and you will reap what you have sown.” I lifted my hand and fluttered my fingers in a gesture of goodbye. “Time to go, I’ve got some work to catch up on. Bye, loser,” I called out as I left him fuming in a fiery pit of his own making.
I’d just barely unlocked and opened the door to my own office, grateful that it hadn’t been touched by the she-devil since they tried to fire me, when my phone beeped that I’d received a text. I set my purse on my desk and pulled out my phone.
Instantly, my mood brightened when I saw it was another text from Gio. I clicked on the message and frowned.
From: Husband
Julianne, I need you. I’m at my apartment.
What in the world? That message didn’t sound like Gio at all. And why would he tell me to come to his apartment as if I didn’t know he was there? I’d just been in the car with him thirty minutes ago when we made the decision to divide and conquer and meet up later.
My intuition was pinging and raising the hairs on the back of my neck. I looped my arm through my purse and called Gio. It rang and rang as I trekked through the office once more. I looked down at my phone when it went to voicemail and ran smack dab into Muriel again.
“Oomph!” I blurted. “I’m so sorry.”
“What’s the matter? You look like you’re not feeling well.”
“Something’s wrong. Gio didn’t answer my call even after he told me he needed me. Do you mind calling his building and have someone check on him, then call me back. I’m going to keep trying him and head there now.”
“Of course, I can. I’ll be in touch,” Muriel said.
I dashed into the elevator and rang Lee, Gio’s driver. He answered on the first ring. “Mrs. Myers-Falco, do I need to pull the car around?”
“Yes, I’m sorry Lee. We need to go back to Gio’s apartment asap. Please pick me up out front. And hurry.” I demanded. Something felt wrong.
I pulled up Gio’s text and responded.
To: Husband
I’m on my way. Are you okay? I tried to call but you didn’t answer.
The door on the elevator opened and I ran through the lobby of the building as fast as my tight skirt and heels would allow. Many people looked at me, but the security knew me well, so I waved and smiled at them to ensure they didn’t follow me.
Luckily, by the time I reached the street, Lee was pulling the limo up to the curb. I jumped into the front seat, much to Lee’s surprise.
“Something doesn’t feel right. I’m going to need you to follow me into Gio’s apartment to ensure he’s okay. You act as security detail for him, when necessary, right?” I was panting, my breath sawing in and out of my lungs as I tried to calm down.
“I’d do anything for Gio, and that loyalty extends to his wife. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
I smiled, reached out and squeezed his forearm. “Thank you. I have no idea what we’ll see when we get there. I might be making a mountain out of a molehill, and he could be surprising me with something, but the way he texted me to hurry back to his apartment and then wasn’t available for a call is strange. I know with his money and influence he is targeted by whackos, and I would rather be safe than sorry.”
“Agreed, Mrs. Myers-Falco.”
“You know you can call me, Julianne, or Jules. We’re going to be seeing a lot more of one another now that Gio and I are married.” I smiled.
“Of course. Will do, Julianne,” he murmured and sped off toward Gio’s building.
My phone rang, and I hoped with my entire heart that it was Gio, but it was Muriel.
“Muriel, what did you find out?”
“The front desk said that Mrs. Falco had called down and requested they not be disturbed.”
“What! But I’m Mrs. Falco,” I breathed, fury infusing every one of my pores.
“That is what I told them, and they said I was lying because they’ve seen Bianca Falco many times and knew her voice well. They thought I was playing a prank on them, if you can believe it!” Muriel sounded pissed, but nowhere near the level of anger that was brewing within my gut.
“I’ll fucking kill her,” I snapped.
“Please don’t get hurt. Gio would want you to be as far away from danger as possible. If that woman is up to no good, I fear for your safety.”
“Don’t you worry about me, Muriel. I’ve got Lee as backup,” I glanced at Lee as he swerved around a taxi and pulled up to the loading zone in front of Gio’s apartment building. He was out of the limo in a flash.
“I’ll call,” I blurted and jumped out of the car.
Lee was at my side, a hand to my lower back, leading me into the building. I walked straight to the penthouse level elevators and pressed the button.
“Excuse me, Miss. You have to be approved to go up there,” someone called out.
Lee turned around and raised a hand between me and the front desk person who approached. I hadn’t been to Gio’s building in so long, I didn’t know any of the staff.
“Mr. Falco asked me to bring up his wife ,” Lee stated.
The front door man shook his head. “No, I talked to his wife, Bianca, earlier. She said they were not to be disturbed by anyone.”
“Check the records. I have unrestricted access as Mr. Falco’s driver and security detail.”
“Sir, I need to check the computer before you head up,” he tried as the elevator doors opened and Lee and I stepped in.
“Wait!” the doorman cried out as I pushed the button for the penthouse floor and Lee typed in a code. The doors closed, and the elevator hummed to life.
The second the door opened to Gio’s apartment, Lee shoved me behind him. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a handgun I didn’t even know he had.
I gripped the back of his suit jacket from behind. “You carry a gun?” I whispered. The situation felt like things had gotten out of hand fast.
Lee lifted his finger to his lips in a shush gesture. I clung to him as we tip-toed through the living room. I could see Gio’s jacket lying on the floor. The tie he was wearing had been left on the bar in the corner. Soft, romantic music was playing throughout the whole house speakers.
As we approached Gio’s bedroom, I noticed candlelight flickering against one of the walls.
Oh shit, maybe he’d actually planned a surprise for me, and nothing was actually wrong. I’d feel stupid, but at least I’d know he was okay.
Lee reached behind me and grabbed my hand tightly. He tried to take a few steps back and push me away as he did so.
“What the hell? What do you see?” I shoved out of his hold and around the corner coming face-to-face with my worst nightmare.
A naked woman with long dark hair falling down her bare back was sitting astride my husband.
She cried out as though in the throes of passion.
“No, no, no, nooooooo,” I gasped and the she-devil herself turned around, flashing us a wicked grin and her small bare breasts.
“Oh, my goodness, would you look at that, Gio? Julianne is here! What are you doing here? We asked not to be disturbed,” she cooed with a devilish smirk.
“Gio!” I cried out, tears filling my eyes and falling down my face.
“Julianne, please, let’s leave,” Lee grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me away, but once again, I shook him off.
“Get up and face me like a real man!” I screeched on a half-sob, but he didn’t move. His hands were at his sides flat on the bed and didn’t so much as twitch. His bare feet were motionless. My mind was trying to understand what I was seeing, while my heart was ripping in half at the sight.
“Leave us be, Julianne, or I’ll have you bodily removed by the authorities. She reached for the sheet and wrapped it around her, but she didn’t so much as move from straddling my husband.
“I’ll leave when my husband gets up and asks me to go!” I snarled.
Again, he didn’t so much as stir.
“He’s…otherwise engaged,” she grinned.
That was when I lost it.
I snatched the gun that was dangling loosely from Lee’s fingers, pointed it right at the she-devil and fired.
* * * *