“Because I had a tough decision to make. I had to choose someone to take over my position, and setting up a fake problem was a good way to prevent a bloodbath between the two of you. I needed time to figure out whom to pick—you’re both strong candidates,” Imani said. “But you’re also your father’s sons. And he nearly destroyed this company before he dumped me for his assistant and ran off with her. And a lot of our capital. I had to make sure I could trust my replacement.”
Devon paced the room. What the fuck, all right. “Matthew and I aren’t accountants. If Toby was in collusion with you, how would we be able to spot the discrepancies on our own?” he asked. His brain barely registered the irony that, for once, he and his brother weren’t on opposite sides.
Imani rolled her forest-green eyes. “A good CEO knows what goes on in his company,” she said her voice deepening. “Which is why you had Elena Moretti do it.”
Elena Moretti.
Devon’s gut dropped all the way to the floor. He wanted to storm out of there, but his legs betrayed him, and he remained pinned to the spot. Licking his lips, he could taste the bitterness of betrayal. “You knew about this?”
Elena raised her gaze to his, and shook her head. “No. I mean yes. I mean, she just told me a few minutes before you walked in.”
“Why her?” Matthew asked. “She’s his assistant.”
Imani shook her head and folded her arms over her chest. “She’s not just an assistant and we all know it. Truth is, when I had this idea, to see who would rise to the occasion, I was unsure about who would surprise me. And, behind the lines, Elena surpassed all my expectations,” Imani continued, her voice smooth as silk. “I always thought men often made decisions based on their private parts. This situation proves it.” She paused and pointed at Devon. “You got involved with an employee, which is strictly forbidden in this company.”
“True,” Matthew said.
“Not so fast, Matthew.” Imani focused her attention on him. “You let your emotions blind you to what really needed to happen and what was going on in the company.”
Matthew ran his hand down his face.
“We don’t need those kinds of problems plaguing Wilder & Co.,” Imani said.
“She got involved with me. Her boss. How is that not a deal-breaker?” Devon asked. How could Imani, who had always been known for her common sense, be so wrong? And how could she have different rules about the same issue based on who the players were?
“Elena Moretti came to spy on you and see if you’d slip up. She slept with you. And she could have used that information against you, but didn’t. Instead, she kept her eye on the prize and vowed to discover the real thief. And she has. She should lead Wilder & Co. until you boys get beyond what your father did to our family and move forward.”
“What about the shares?” Matthew surged to his feet, hands jammed in his pockets. “She doesn’t have that kind of money.”
“I’m open to making her CEO and I’ll sell one of you my shares.” Imani lifted her chin. “I’ll have one of you be the major shareholder. This way, we can all sort of work together as I prepare to leave my position.”
Devon curled his fist and slammed it on the shelf. Hard. “This is ridiculous. Do you know the valuable time I wasted trying to figure out who had been stealing from our company?” He ran his hand down his face. Every part of him tingled with compressed anger. Striding toward her, he let it out. “Elena. You played Matthew and me. You got involved with me because you wanted my position,” he said, and a sad chill poured into his bloodstream. She betrayed him.
Regina had used him to promote herself in the end, but she didn’t toy with his emotions. She hadn’t made him care, like a fool, just to throw him under the bus. She had scratched his reputation, sure, but Regina didn’t cost him the CEO title. Elena did.
Elena shook her head. “What? No.” She raised her voice. “No,” she repeated this time a bit more commanding. “Damn it, Devon, no.”
Devon snarled. “Doesn’t seem like it right now. What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk to you as soon as I found out who was stealing. I thought you were still in this conference room. Then I saw her, and—
“And you just told her everything.” Because that would make you look good.
Elena stood, hands perched at her waist. “You think I betrayed you? Really? Or is this because that whole spiel about me standing up for myself came with restrictions? As long as what I say serves your purpose, I’m good, right? Otherwise I have to double-check with you before I open my pretty mouth.”
“Don’t change the subject,” he said, and vaguely registered Imani and Matthew’s curious glances coming his way.
For an instant, he wondered if the air-conditioner quit working. He took a deep breath, and the sound of him inhaling filled the otherwise quiet room. She walked toward him, her heels clacking across the wood flooring with intent.
She curled her fingers into a ball, her shoulders rigid. “I didn’t say yes to Imani.”
“Did you say no?” He stared deep into her eyes. “Tell me. When she asked you to be CEO, did you say no immediately? Because you knew that’s what your supposed friend there”—he pointed at Matthew—“and I wanted?”
“I didn’t have time—
“It’s a yes or no question.” He cut her off.
Rubbing her forehead, she broke the stare and glanced at the floor. “I didn’t say no.”
