‘What are you talking about? I put aside a huge lump sum for tax every year – I always have. And I’m up to date with staff insurance and pension contributions …’
But Nick was shaking his head and Annie’s heart plummeted again.
He stepped out from behind his desk and perched on the side of her chair, putting a comforting hand on her arm. ‘Your last accountant was obviously creaming the money you set aside for the Revenue. He never paid them a penny, Annie. He’s also messed up your cash flow by being late on supplier invoices and racking up some serious interest.’
Her mind was whirling. ‘Frank was stealing from me? But how? Why?’
‘I’m not entirely sure of all the ins and outs of it just yet. But even a quick look at the numbers and alarm bells started ringing. I waited until I’d spoken to someone at the Revenue office and knew for sure until I involved you. But it would probably explain why he left so suddenly when you got me in to go over the accounts.’
‘Oh my God. How much do we owe?’ she asked, afraid of the answer. But being a businesswoman was all about facing facts. Not to mention that Annie had never been one to hide away from reality. Better to just face up to it instead of collapsing in a heap about the whys and wheretofores. ‘And how much cashdowe have?’
Nick’s voice was especially sombre now. ‘I’m sorry, Annie. At present, the business owes far more in back taxes, interest, and penalties than it earns. So the short answer is … nothing.’
‘Don’t say that!’ Her breath hitched and tears began to fill her eyes. Despite her best attempts at keeping her emotions rational and in check, upon hearing this she couldn’t help her despair.
Nothing …
What the fuck had Frank done? And why? He’d come highly recommended, so she’d trusted him to keep the books in order when the salon had become so busy that she could no longer do it.
Granted, she’d had a hard time letting go of the reins initially, but that was understandable. This washerbusiness, her baby. And Frank had messed it up on her – stolen from her, cleaned her out!
Her knuckles went white as she clasped the side of the chair. She’d kill him. She’d track the bastard down, wherever he was, and there’d be hell to pay …
‘It’s a horrible situation.’ Nick was still talking. ‘And he obviously scarpered when he knew he’d be found out.’
‘Thiscan’tbe happening …’ Annie whispered, almost to herself. ‘He can’t get away with this …’
‘I know you’re upset and that’s understandable,’ Nick soothed, moving across to place a comforting hand on her arm. ‘This is a huge shock to the system – for anyone. But now we need to figure out what happens next.
‘The salon owes the taxman a lot of money – everything. Even if you set up a payment plan, with interest and penalties, you’ll be paying it back for years. And the current cash to hand won’t be enough to keep paying the staff or indeed yourself a salary for too much longer.’
A cry left her lips so suddenly, it surprised her. ‘You mean I’m finished? Gone? The salon is finished?’
She didn’t know how to process any of this. She’d worked so hard for so many years to get where she was.
Felicity hadtrustedher to make something of herself.
Now Annie felt dizzy. It couldn’t be true. All these years, all the work – blood, sweat, long hours, and sacrifice – gone. The shock, confusion, and pure disbelief she was feeling then reminded her of when she’d first heard news of her father’s death all those years ago. This, too, felt like a death.
It couldn’t be happening …
Her mind reeled as she tried to get a handle on the implications of it all.
She wanted to run out of the room, get as far away as she could from Nick’s words and this unfolding nightmare.
But she also knew she couldn’t do that; from what he was telling her, the situation was critical, beyond that, even. There were decisions to be made, plans to make – desperate measures to consider. She didn’t have the luxury of taking off somewhere to cry and lick her wounds.
Nick had made that much very clear.
Still Annie couldn’t escape an all-too-familiar feeling of déjà vu. And that once again, she’d been let down. As always, just when she thought she’d found something good in life, the axe had to fall.
Story of her life.
Chapter 33
Then
Colette wandered along the streets of Sorrento with a smile on her face and a spring in her step.
