Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
He swallowed. “I suppose she must have been blackmailing him. That’s why he needed so much money.”
I scowled. “Money?”
“The meeting today, the one that Max stormed out of. I called it to tell him we were going to press charges for embezzlement if he didn’t return the money.”
My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. “Embezzlement?”
“It’s been going on for months and he has been very clever at covering his tracks, but this week, finally, our accountants were able to trace the payments back to him.”
I let go of Robert’s tie, and stood back, shattered. I stared at him, my head shaking with disbelief. No way. It couldn’t be. This was not the Max I knew. Max was the most honest person I’d ever known. He would never cheat Robert. Or…would he? Was it all a lie? “But he’s your friend. Your business partner,” I babbled. “He would never do that to you.”
Robert adjusted his tie. “Well, clearly he has. I wanted to make it easy on him by asking him to return the money and I would forget it, but I guess he doesn’t have that kind of money so he pretended to be offended and stormed out. I have to be honest and tell you that it doesn’t look good for him, Savannah. I’m afraid he could be going to prison for a very long time.”
“Prison?” I whispered as I struggled to process what Robert was telling me.
“Embezzlement is a serious crime.” He picked up one of the pictures, shook his head in disgust and flicked it away from him.
How strange. Even after seeing the repulsive pictures and knowing that Max was nothing more than a common thief, I wanted to wipe away that look of disgust from Robert’s face. Even after what he had done to me, I couldn’t bear for anyone to insult him.
My hand rushed forward, not to punch Robert’s face, but to cover my mouth. I closed my eyes. I needed a moment to try and make sense out of everything. But nothing seemed to be computing. It was all too much for me to take in at once. I had been so sure he was the one. From the moment I had seen him at that bar two years ago, I had felt an instant connection to him. I had felt him to my core as my inner soul told me I had found my soulmate. The more my friends tried to tell me I was too young to settle down to one man, the more sure I was that I had found that one man I wanted to be with forever.
I saw us growing old together. I saw him, with gray hair. I saw our children, our grandchildren. And now to find that my mate had betrayed me broke my heart into pieces.
I felt a dark cloud sweep over me as my heart came to grips with the decision I would have to make.
I opened my eyes. My hands were steady as I picked up the photos from the desk and placed them back into the file, slipping only one out and into my purse. I looked up at Robert. My cheeks burned with the pity I saw in his eyes.
I lifted my chin. “Could you take me back to get my car, please?”
“Savannah, I’m really sorry. This is so fucked up. I never wanted you to find out this way.”
“It’s okay. None of this is your fault. Thank you for being a good friend, Robert.”
“I feel like a heel, though. God, I wish I’d never suggested you come here.”
“I needed to know. And I’m glad I know.” Then I walked out of the office and went straight to the elevator. He followed me out and stood next to me. He said nothing. There was nothing to say. It felt like hours passed before the elevator doors opened.
The ride back to the restaurant was in total silence. Images and memories of Max and me floated in and out of my mind. The last few weeks especially, showed me the signs had been there but I had not paid attention to his distance and preoccupation, writing it off as the usual work stress. But now it all made sense.
I thanked Robert once again as he walked me to my car.
“Will you be okay, Savannah? Are you sure you can drive? Do you want me to follow you home or anything?”
I shook my head. “No. I’ll be okay.”
I reached up and brushed my lips against his cheek. “Thanks again for everything, Robert. You’ve been a great friend to us both. Shame Max didn’t appreciate you.”
“Promise to call me if you need me?”
“Of course. Take care.”
I got into my car and pulled away. I watched in the rear-view mirror as Robert grew smaller, feeling as though Max was growing smaller and smaller in my heart. By the time I reached my apartment, I was sobbing my heart out. I knew that I would have to find a way to heal my shattered heart from Max’s betrayal, but not now. Now I would just mourn the loss of him. For it was a big loss. A very, very, very big loss.