Nicholas nearly choked on his coffee. “She’s good for you,Alex.”
At this, Alexander relaxed. “Philippa set the press conference for six-thirty. We’ll address my supposed domestic violence. The second article that accused us of being tossers in every way, we’ll ignore for now. Let the lawyers handle it. Will youstay?”
Nicholas nodded. “Of course. A united front. Foyle called half an hour ago. He and the U.S. Attorney are on their way. Our accounting department finished their research. We overpaid by a grand total of forty-two-point-one million over threeyears.”
“Shite.” Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose. “With that size of a payout, no wonder they tried to eliminateElizabeth.”
“She’ll be safe after we speak with the U.S. Attorney. Ben already filed the lawsuit listing her as the primary witness. The partners will be served tomorrow, once Elizabeth signs heraffidavit.”
The china cup rattled in her saucer. “They can still try to pin it all on me,” she said quietly. “That’s what they were trying to do last night. Plant evidence that I was responsible, make my death look like a suicide, and they stay out of jail. Sure, they have to pay the money back, but they’d be free. I bet they’ve invested it all, made millions more. There’s probably an account somewhere with my name on it containing a shit-ton of money that can be traced back to CPH clients.” Elizabeth started scrolling through her files, searching for anything out of place. “I wish I’d paid more attention to my boyfriend in college. He wrote a couple of password crackingapps.”
“How did you know?” Alexander asked, a strained edge to his voice. “About your computer. You weren’t making much sense last night. You worried me.” He brushed his knuckles along her jaw, such a tender and intimate gesture that she shifted closer tohim.
“I didn’t mean to,” she said with a shy smile. “My mouse was on the right side of my laptop, and the laptop was closed. When I left with you for the party, the lid was open, and I use the mouse with my lefthand.”
“But you’re right-handed,” Alexander said, his browfurrowed.
Elizabeth chuckled. “That I am, Mr. Observant. But a lot of full-time accountants mouse left-handed. At work, I had an external number pad on the right side of my keyboard. The guy must have moved my mouse when he was putting the files on my laptop, and then he shut the lid when he wasdone.”
While Nicholas and Alexander discussed the suit Fairhaven Exports would file on Monday, Elizabeth tried to break into a couple of the protected files. Her eyes felt gritty, but sheknewthere had to be somethingthere.
“Gotcha,” she muttered as the screen filled with dozens of spreadsheets, documents, and screenshots. One particularly large document drew her attention. As she paged through the images, she started to feel sick. “Well, this alone damnsme.”
Alexander peered at her screen, grimaced, and then turned the laptop towards Nicholas so he could see the emailmessage.
I’ve completed the Fairhaven files. Eight percent, as we agreed. I expect the bonus in my account by morning. —Elizabeth
“Well,shite.”
“She didn’t send that email, Nicholas,” Alexander saidsharply.
Nicholas sighed and leaned back, draping his arm over the top of the couch. “Iknowthat, Alex. If I thought she had anything to do with this, I wouldn’t be here. I’d have sent my lawyer instead. Blood hell, you can be over-protective.”
“I protect those I love. You should know that bynow.”
Elizabeth’s heartbeat thudded in her ears. Then skipped a beat. If Donatella hadn’t entered at that precise moment carrying a fresh carafe of coffee and more mugs, Elizabeth would have gaped. While he’d told her earlier that he loved her, saying it in front of someoneelse?
“Dinner will be at seven, Mr. Fairhaven. How many will therebe?”
“Nicholas? Do you want to stay?” Alexanderasked.
His brother waved his hand. “No. Candy will be waiting for me by then. If I don’t feed her, she getswhiny.”
Alexander glanced at Elizabeth. “Your friends willcome?”
Checking her phone, she nodded. “Yes.” The six text messages she’d received confirmed they’d show upandthat they planned to interrogate Alexander withoutmercy.
“We’ll be four,then.”
Donatella nodded at Alexander. “And the extra staff? They will bestaying?”
“For now. I know this is extra work for you and I’m sorry for that. Have Samuel book you and your daughter a week somewhere in January, anywhere you want togo.”
Donatella beamed. “Thank you, sir. Teresa has always wanted to go toCancun.”
The chef left as Milos led Ben, Paul Foyle, and a woman and another man Elizabeth didn’t know into the room. Alexander stood, then helped Elizabeth to herfeet.
Ben smiled and offered her his hand. “You worried us, my dear. I’m glad you’re allright.”
