Just as I’m about to protest, Sam walks in, eyebrows raised at Vera’s psychotic rant. “Problems in romanceland?”
“Fuck you, Sam.”
Claude and the rest of the team I’ve gathered to find my money walk into the room behind Sam.
He looks around at the strange faces then back to me. “What’s going on here?”
“What’s going on?” I seethe. “What’s going on is that you’ve been caught, Sam. You and Vera have been stealing from me for over a year.”
“What are you talking about?” he blusters. I can see the wheels spinning in his mind as he tries to think of an excuse… a way out of the predicament he’s found himself in.
Vera gasps, “Sam, what did you do?”
“Can it, Vera. You’ve been caught red-handed.”
Claude turns the laptop in his hands towards the pair of thieves and plays the recording of them at my desk not an hour ago.
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Vera whines. “It wasn’t me.”
My brows raise in surprise that she’s still trying to deny it even though she’s on video participating in the crime.
Claude snorts. “If that isn’t enough, we were able to trace the most recent theft to the accounts you’re sending money to. My techs are good. Once we knew where to look… well, let’s just say Mr. James’s funds are back right where they belong.”
Sam’s eyes widen. “You can’t do that!”
“I can do more than that,” I growl as the police detective I’ve been in contact with walks in.
“Mr. James, I hear you’ve found your culprit,” Justin McIntyre says nonchalantly.
“Yes, Detective McIntyre. Meet Sam Wilson and Vera Michaels. The thieves who have been embezzling from my company.”
“Nice to make your acquaintance,” he says snidely to the pair before arresting them both.
Vera cries and begs me to forgive her and take her back. She apologizes and does everything but throw herself on the ground in supplication. All her pleas fall on deaf ears. Of the charges against her, sending Olive running is by far the worst. I could almost forgive the thievery… breaking my Olive’s heart… not even a little forgiveness.
It’s been three days since Olive sent me away, and I’m about to go insane. She refuses my calls, sending me to voicemail every time. My texts go unanswered. I’ve tried going to her apartment, but her bulldog of a best friend has run me off every time. I won’t give up, though. I refuse.
I can’t imagine what Olive is thinking about me right now. I hate that she’s hurting and that I’m the cause. I have to fix this somehow, but I don’t know where to start. Time to suck it up and ask the professional—Rita.
The phone only rings twice before she answers with a friendly ‘hello.’
“Rita, I need your help.” I don’t beat around the bush; I dive straight into the reason I’m calling.
“What do you need?”
“Olive. I need Olive.”
“Tell me everything.”
So, I do. I tell her all about Vera and her plot to get between us and how it worked, and now Olive won’t even speak to me.
“Well, you’ve gotten yourself into quite a mess,” Rita says.
I swipe my hand down my face and let out a gusty sigh. “I know. Just help me fix it.”
“Tell me one thing. Do you love her?”
I don’t even have to think about my response. “Yes. I do.”
