Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Leanna’s concern softens and then disappears altogether. “I appreciate your understanding. I consider us friends as well, and I guess that just slipped out. It was rude, though, and inappropriate to ask in the office. Next time, I’ll ask when we’re at happy hour.”
I chuckle. “Sure.”
Alcohol is like truth serum, so I set a mental reminder never to go to happy hour with Leanna.
Things cool from the heated topic, and I’m happy to change this subject. Although I’m still reluctant to involve her. I probably shouldn’t. “I have some questions about this file. Will you check Ms. Bancroft’s schedule to see if she has availability this morning?”
“Fifteen minutes? An hour?”
“Um . . .” I look out the window. I could easily spend my day taking up hers, but she may not appreciate that. “Fifteen should be fine.”
Leanna stands again. “Anything else for today?”
“Try to reach Mr. and Mrs. Torres to see when they’ll be back in the States or if they’d like to have a conference call in the office for our next meeting?”
“Will do.”
When Leanna gets up to leave, I ask, “How’d the move go?”
“Hot, but we got it done.”
“That’s good.”
She nods. “Thanks for asking.”
A few minutes later, she calls to tell me I’m on Liv’s schedule in an hour. Something to look forward to.
I head to the kitchen to grab another cup of coffee. The caffeine of one cup wasn’t strong enough to fight my fatigue this morning. When I walk in, I’m greeted with curves I haven’t stopped thinking about, long hair with a gentle wave hanging over one shoulder, and eyes that hold a new secret—one we share. “Seems my timing is perfect.”
“I’d say so.” Liv finishes filling her coffee mug. Lowering the carafe, she asks, “How are you, Mr. Westcott?”
“I’m doing well. And you, Ms. Bancroft?”
“How am I doing?” She taps a stir stick against her lips. The tease. “I’m doing amazing.”
“Amazing, huh?”
“So good.” She walks toward the door. “Oh, Mr. Westcott?”
I struggle to keep my gaze on her more professional attributes. “Yes, Ms. Bancroft?”
“I got a notification about our meeting.” Taking the stick between her lips, she sucks the coffee right off before tossing it in the trash on her way out. “I’ll see you in an hour.”
I watch her go, enjoying every sway of those full hips. “Can’t wait,” I reply, already knowing there’s no way I’ll be able to act like a professional around her.
Fuck me.
29
Noah
Dread sets in like quicksand, slowly engulfing the integrity I held on to like a trophy. I know it’s right to tell Liv everything, but something’s niggling at the back of my mind that it’s too soon, too dangerous, too careless to involve her at this stage.
She’s an ally to everything I stand for, but she’s also the boss’s daughter. My son is his grandchild. If I march into Mr. Bancroft’s office with accusations, I’ll be fired. Starting a war with the Lowes and her father will make her susceptible to the charges I’ll be waging against them.
If they go down, they’ll drag her with him. They might even let her take the fall altogether. She did as she was told and had no reason to question her father’s involvement in laundering the money. So it would be easy to frame her. She’s in accounting. Did she miss what I found? Yes, but after hearing the stories about her father, I know what she was doing—accepting him at face value.
She questions his morals, his love for her, and even his role in her life. But when it comes to business, he’s considered an upstanding member of society. He’s won awards and works with established and wealthy clients from all over the world. There was no reason to question his ethics.
As I stare at the numbers, the money that’s been paid, a million in the past year, to a subsidiary that traces back to Chipper Lowe, I’m thinking exposing this information, which was right in front of everyone’s eyes, is best kept under wraps for a while. I need to consult a lawyer before confronting the bosses.
There’s also a matter of making sure Liv is safe. The only way I know to do that is by keeping her out of the details.
I pull up my schedule and cancel the meeting with her this morning.
My phone rings . . . my personal phone, her name flashing on the screen. “Hello?” I shouldn’t be grinning, but she brings it out in me.
“Why did you cancel our meeting?”
“It’s been put on the back burner, so I don’t need to meet anymore.”
“Couldn’t you have kept the meeting, though?” A wisp of hope threads her tone.
I’m not usually this slow, but I finally catch on to what she’s implying. Kicking my feet up on my desk, I stare out into the yonder of the cityscape, enjoying every moment of hearing her voice. “Do you still want to meet, Ms. Bancroft?”