“This is bigger than we think, Son. I want you to get all the way to the bottom of this. You are the head, but you have to be able to trust the people you put in charge.”
“I will get to the bottom of it. I have to figure who would do this and how?”
“It has to be someone in high-level management. No director could have pulled this off. This is one of our vice presidents or board members. Get Tom in here now,” Dad said on a deep sigh.
“One step ahead of you,” I said to my father who had gotten up and was pacing the floor. “Tom and I have a meeting set for two p.m. I wanted my ducks in a straight row before I approached him.”
Tom Franks had been our Vice President of Finance for seventeen years. As much as I liked Tom, this was an egregious error he should have caught before my father did. Ultimately, financial matters fell on his shoulders.
“That’s in an hour. I’m going to my office and I’ll be back then. I want to be right in here with you when you meet with him.”
“Dad, I know he is an old friend of yours, but make no mistake about it...” I gave my father a stern look. “If I find out that he’s fudging the numbers, or even worse, flat out stealing, I’m firing him and pressing charges today.”
My father looked disappointed that things had come to this. “Do what you have to do, Son.” He walked out of the door and I went back to studying the files.
“My God, Tom,” I said, wondering if he had been doing his job at all.
I sat at my desk mulling over tons of files. Thirty minutes later, one of my accountants was able to pinpoint the owner of the account the money was deposited in. My eyes doubled in size when she showed me who the culprit was.
“Dad!” I buzzed my father. “You better get in here, quick.”
CHAPTER TEN
Montie
How Deep Is Your Love?
Destiny’s tights hugged every one of her curves the right way, when she walked into the kitchen. I was at the sink taking a swig of water. I paused mid gulp to admire her fitted tee shirt and the way her hair was pulled back in a ponytail exposing her neck. She had applied just the right amount of makeup to cover the remaining bruise on her face and to complement her beauty.
Damn, my ex is bad.
She was one gorgeous woman. Jacob had to be some type of stupid if he thought I was going to let him get off easy. He had his chance and, thanks to him messing up, I had my chance too. I’d never been the type of man that didn’t seize a window of opportunity.
“Are you going somewhere?” I asked, slightly tilting my head to the side to admire her curvaceous body as she kneeled down to tie her shoes.
“Yeah, since the doctor hasn’t cleared me to run yet, I’m going for a walk,” Destiny said. The curve of her lips as she spoke was salacious.
“I could go with you.” I turned to rinse my glass and put it in the rack. “That’s if you want me to, of course.”
“I want to go by myself. I haven’t been alone for two weeks with you and Mama breathing down my neck.”
“I’ve just been trying to look out for you, Destiny,” I said, taking the opportunity to walk toward her. “I wouldn’t know how to function if something happened to you, again.”
She smiled appreciatively. “Thanks for that, Montie, and for all that you are doing. I’m finally getting my strength back, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that if it wasn’t for you.” She touched where her face had been bruised. “Thank God I feel better than I look,” she said, referring to the bruise that remained from the attack.
“Oh baby, you are as beautiful today as you were when I met you,” I assured her. I took her hand into mine and squeezed it. “These scars will heal. I’m just glad my kids didn’t lose their mother,” I said, reaching for her other hand. “And that I didn’t lose you.”
There was a long moment where we stood hand in hand, ruminating what could have been an alternate outcome. “The thought of not being here for my kids cuts so deep, Montie. Those two are my world,” she said sincerely.
“They are our world that we created out of love. To think someone almost robbed them of a relationship with one of the most beautiful and caring women I know drives me crazy.” I squeezed her hands tighter. “Please don’t put yourself in a position like that again.”
“I didn’t think I was putting myself in this position. There was no way I could have predicted Justine would go off the deep end like that,” Destiny said, walking away from me. “I’m about to go walk.”
“I’m coming with you,” I said, thinking about the dangers of her being alone.
She swung back around and glared at me. “You are not coming with me! I need some space.”
“Fine,” I said, reluctantly throwing my hands in the air. I let her go alone, but sat on the porch watching her walk away, where I planned to be until she returned.