Page 130 of This is a Kissing Book

When we part, I say, “See you at the office.”

“We’re such sneaks. Secret keepers.” She laughs, but has no idea how close to the truth she is.

I pause by the door, knowing it’s now or never. But I’m already planning to confront my father. Maybe one confession is enough for today. So I make my exit.

An hour later, I walk through Meridian’s marble lobby. Security nods at me. They’ve gotten used to my presence over the summer. But today feels different. I’m not just the boss’s son playing the role of a businessman. I’m a man with a purpose to make things right.

My father’s office door is closed when I reach the executive floor, but his assistant waves me through. He’s standing by the windows overlooking the city, phone pressed to his ear, and doesn’t acknowledge my presence for several minutes.

“We’ll discuss this later,” he says finally, ending the call. “Abraham, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“We need to talk.”

“Sounds serious.” He drops into his leather chair. “Could it be about the use of company funds?”

“Ding, ding, ding,” I say, though I know he’s referring to the New York and DC trip. “It’s about some discrepancies in insurance filings, among other things.”

His expression doesn’t change, but something shifts in his eyes. “I see you’ve been busy.”

Before I can respond, there’s a knock on the door. “Come in,” my father calls.

Jules enters, carrying a thick folder, but stops short when she sees me. “Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize⁠—”

“Perfect timing, actually,” my father says. “I asked Miss Lindley to share what you discovered in your investigation.”

I do everything not to move like I just experienced whiplash. “Wait. What?”

The corner of his mouth lifts as realization hits me from behind, from a direction I never saw coming. My father has known all along. That means he’s involved or—what exactly?

“You knew?”

He levels me with his gaze. “Son, I know everything.”

I take a measured breath, wondering what is going on.

Jules looks between us. Clearly sensing the tension, she drops the files and then makes for the door.

“Miss Lindley, please remain. We don’t have any secrets here, do we?” my father says smoothly. “We’re all on the same team.”

She swallows thickly.

“Why don’t you kids tell me what you discovered?”

We’re both quiet except for the ticking of Abe’s old grandfather clock. I came up here fired up, but with a few simple words, my father put out the flames. Now what?

45

LINC

Standing before my father, Jules draws herself up. “Someone has been commissioning high-quality forgeries, having them authenticated by our own experts, insuring them for massive amounts, then claiming tax deductions for ‘donating’ them or sending them to auction while keeping the originals in private storage.”

My father’s head inclines in a direction that shows mild surprise. “How long has this been going on?”

Jules looks at me as if for approval. “Based on the patterns we found, at least a year. Someone with executive access has been taking advantage of desperate sellers and increasing values for insurance purposes.”

Eyes boring into my father, I add, “It’s fraud. Executive fraud.”

“Indeed,” he says as if this is a novelty.