“I did it,” I blurt out, standing in front of Maria, facing Brock.
“Where have you been?” Brock asks. “I looked for you after my meeting and couldn’t find you.”
“I went for a walk. Anyway, it was me. I took the money.”
He cocks his head. “What money?
“The money in your office. That’s what you’re talking about, right?”
He glances at Maria. “Did you tell her to cover for you?”
“No, sir.”
“Stop blaming her,” I say, getting angry. “She didn’t do it. I did. I needed money and I couldn’t find you.”
“You needed eight hundred dollars?”
So I guess rich guysdonotice when money is missing, or maybe only Brock does. He even knew the exact amount. There was at least three or four thousand dollars in that stack. How did he know some was missing? Does he count it every time he goes into his office?
“The money was for a phone,” I explain. “When I was out walking my phone slipped out of my hand into a storm drain. I thought of trying to reach in there and get it, but it was wet and disgusting in there and I was pretty sure the phone was ruined. I didn’t want to wait to get a new one, so I took some money from your desk.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me for the money?”
“I couldn’t find you. I looked all over the house, except for your bedroom, which I know I’m not supposed to go in.”
“You are never to go in my office either.”
“I know, but the door was open, so I thought you were coming back. I sat there and waited but you never showed up. Then I saw the money sitting there and thought I could just borrow it for the phone, and you could take it from my allowance.”
“Sir, am I excused?” Maria asks.
“Not yet.” Brock stares into my eyes. “How did you get to the store?”
“Rideshare,” I say, staring back.
“If you didn’t have a phone, you didn’t have the app.”
Shit, he caught me. He knows I lied.
“She used mine,” Maria says. “She said she had to run an errand and asked if she could use my phone to schedule a car to come get her. I would’ve taken her myself, but I had a load of your shirts in the dryer, and I needed to be here when they were done so they didn’t wrinkle. Per your instructions, sir.”
Brock’s eyes bounce between Maria and me. I can’t tell if he believes her, but it’s a good story. I’d believe it, especially given her comment about how picky he is about how his laundry is done.
“I’ll pay you back,” I tell Brock. “I have some money saved. I just need to get it out of my account.”
“That’s not necessary,” Brock says. “I’ll pay for the phone. I just wish you’d come to me for the money instead of stealing it.”
“I wasn’t stealing. I swear, I was going to tell you about it. I just couldn’t find you and I really needed to replace my phone.”
He looks at Maria. “You can go.”
She hurries off.
“I need to go dry my hair,” I say, turning to leave.
“Rumor, wait.”
I turn around. “What?”
