"Mrs. Thompson, I am so glad I caught you!" Shelly exclaimed in relief as I walked through the lobby. "I noticed that we're running low on funds. I thought maybe you forgot to transfer the money. Then...money began to disappear from the main account."
I stopped in front of the elevator and frowned.
"What do you mean by disappearing?" I asked.
"Gone. I don't know where it's been going. I called in some agents and they can't track who it is or what's really going on."
I jabbed the up button and waited for the doors to open. I really didn't have time for any of this nonsense. Everything and everyone was being mighty slow. I wanted to move fast. What I had done Saturday night was haunting me. I had no one to tell. Not even Luca. Missing Sunday was lost time and I needed to make up big time for that.
"Shelly, call Mr. Thompson. Tell him to come to my office."
"Yes, ma'am."
We stepped into the elevator.
"Is there any way I can fit another meeting in before lunch?" I asked.
"Uhh..." She looked through my schedule on her tablet. "Maybe. You ordered me to fit in as many meetings as I could before lunch. You said you didn't want to be disturbed during that time."
"Well, my lunch is going to be later today," I said. "I need a 12 O'clock meeting today. Move my lunch to 1."
"Yes, ma'am. I'll make sure everyone knows to come in early. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
"Stay out of my way today."
We exited the elevator on the sixth floor. Shelly went to her office and I took a small detour to check up on some things. Or tried to. It wasn't much I could do about people in meetings. I wasn't one to barge in at random times, so I'd have to wait till the meeting.
"Do you even remember what happened Saturday night?" Luca asked, following me into the bathroom. "If not, I'd be more than happen to tell you."
"How someone marched into your office and tried killing me?" I asked. "How I fought back, but still lost?"
"Yes, yes. You remember?"
"No. I don't remember anything. I heard what you and Adrien were talking about over the phone," I snapped. "Could you get out? I have to get ready for work."
"You're all work and no play," He complained. "Your birthday is in tomorrow. Can't you just relax and get ready for it?"
"When crime doesn't sleep, neither do I. Until you can execute world peace, I will go to work until my life has been truly threatened."
I pushed him out the bathroom and closed the door behind him. I slid to the floor and silently cried. I remembered everything. It couldn't have been no one but whoever hated me. I did do a lot of things that angered a lot of people. Yet, it doesn't make any sense on how they would know about my personal life.
After getting dressed and everything, I left the bathroom in a hurry and rushed downstairs. I really needed to check up on the company and see what was up with everything. I hadn't been there personally, because of the new cases at the station. Today, I'd try to be a normal, rich woman who happens to own a chain of therapy companies around California.
"Luca, can we talk?" I asked, grabbing his arm. "I'm sorry about what just happened. I just needed to tell you something and I didn't know how to say it."
"...What's worth mentioning right now?" He asked, looking at my hand.
My mouth went dry. How do I tell him? He'd never let me out of his sight.
"...I've decided to...leave here. I'm not safe."
"What do you mean leave?' He removed my hand from his arm. "We can't leave."
"I'm sorry. I said me, but if you want to go with me, then you are more than welcomed to. I just don't want to put the kids in danger with the trouble I've caused recently. I'm as good as dead if anyone finds out what happened Saturday."
"Where do you plan on going? What are you going to tell Brad?"
"New York. Why would he take his time to come and see me there? He barely comes to see me now and he lives a couple of minutes away."
"You can't leave."
"Why not?"
This guy was making it harder than it really was. If I wanted to leave, then I could leave. It's not like he was really thinking about coming with me.
"Please, Lexi," Luca pleaded. "Why would you do this? I'd be left alone and I won't be able to take care of the kids. Just don't leave...yet."
Who said I'd leave you with the kids?
⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️
It was quiet and dark when Luca entered my office. I was typing up a report to send to all the department heads when we had the meeting. Shelly had already called me and everyone was clearing their schedules for the meeting. I didn't know what was going on. No one had even tried mentioning it to me. If someone knew something, it had to be Luca.
"Shut the door," I muttered. "Apparently...someone has been targeting the company with money laundering. Did you know anything about this, Luca?"
"I did," He said. "I didn't say anything, because of what had been happening lately. I only found out Saturday morning."
"Why didn't you just hint at it before I went to work?"
"I didn't want to stress you out."
I sighed as he took a seat. This was really annoying me. How could someone have so much resentment towards me that they have to hack into my company accounts and steal my money. It couldn't be anyone close to me. Even the people I share personal information with, they wouldn't dare betray my trust. Not unless...
"Call up Brad. If anyone knows how to get to the bottom of this, it's him," I said.
"...Why?" Luca asked. "You know he never wants to get involved with what we do."
"He's my dad. Of course he'd want to know why the company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Have you talked to the technicians team?"
"No. They told Shelly to tell me that they were working on everything. I mean, they've fixed things for us before, so I didn't check personally to see if it was true.
"Oh, my God. Luca, I swear there is something wrong with you. After the meeting, I want you to go to the control room. Find out what is happening. If you have to hire someone else to do it for you, then do so. I will not let my headquarters go under."
"Of course there's something wrong with me. I married you, baby. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about marrying you. You're crazy and I'm crazier for marrying you."
"Get out," I snapped. "I swear you can't be serious when I need you to be."
"I can," Luca argued. "Just not now, because you're so cute when you're anxious."
"I'm not anxious."
"Sure you aren't. I'll go and get ready for the meeting. Eat something, so you won't fall out or anything."
"I already did."
It was less than a couple of minutes after Luca left when the door to my office opened again. By then, I had opened the curtains and let the windows up. My back was to whoever had come in as the door shut. When I heard my chair squeak, I turned around and was surprised to see Asher sitting there. What was he doing here?
"...Asher," I breathed.
"Lexi," He said. "Surprised to see me again?"
"When did you get back?"
"...Tuesday. You seemed to be quite busy when I arrived, so I just decided to stop by today for a surprise visit."
I really hoped that he was telling the truth. I knew more about Asher than he knew about me.
"So...how's work at the station?" I asked.
"Good. I've been working on a little something, so I've had my share of being busy also."
"Oh. Well, that's good to hear." I sighed, not wanting to ask him about his life. I knew what to expect, but he didn't know that. "...How's Vinnie? Is he passing school well?"
"Yes. School is almost out and he's currently top of his class," Asher bragged. "I was planning on taking him to the gala. A little incentive for passing."
"I would have sent an invite anyway."
"I know you would have, that's why I came to tell you. Have you heard from Sha'Kera and your brother?"
I scoffed. Those two. I would never forget that call. Hilarious, but disgusting.
"Haven't heard a word. I think they went out somewhere to continue their steamy evening," I muttered.
"Wouldn't expect any less from them." Asher smiled. "So...where were you Saturday night...at nine?"