JODIE
“Jodie, could I talk to you in my office, please?” Matt’s cold, hard voice booms from behind me as I make my way down to the staff room for my lunch break—a short one to make up for my lost time yesterday.
“Of course.” Wheeling around, I give him a bright smile, trying to ignore the dread that’s seeping through my bones at his tone.
I slip inside after him, my heart thrashing in my chest. “Close the door, please.”
The click of the latch pierces through me as I push it closed.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my eyes flashing to his computer screen, half expecting the security footage of Toby fucking me to fill it at any moment.
Thankfully—I think—that’s not what happens. Although the words that fall from his lips aren’t all that great, either.
“For a few weeks now, there have been issues with the daily takings,” he says as if I should know something about it.
“Oh shit, really? Do you think someone has been stealing?” I ask, genuinely horrified. I always thought we had a pretty strong and reliable team. Clearly, I was wrong.
“Yes, I do. And I have reason to believe it's you.”
My eyes go wide, and I take a step back as if he just physically struck me.
“What?” I screech. “No. I would never. I—”
“Could you empty your bag for me, Jodie?” he says, his voice brokering no argument, and I let it slip from my shoulder.
“Matt, you’re not actually serious right now?” I ask in complete disbelief.
He looks at me, and finally, I see a slip in his cold mask as a little guilt creeps through his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Jodie. I am.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, dumping my bag on his desk, more than ready to upend the things and prove that I’m not taking money from the till.
I know my life might be less than perfect right now, but I’d never do that.
The contents of my bag spread out across the old chipped desk, a couple of tampons rolling off and falling directly into Matt’s lap. Something that would usually entertain me, but right now I feel nothing but ice-cold dread leaking through my veins.
“See,” I say, gesturing to the completely unnecessary amount of crap I’ve just discovered I’ve been walking around with.
His eyes rake over it, lingering on an old condom packet before he looks up at me. He holds my stare while my heart continues to pointlessly race, making me a little light-headed.
I swallow nervously as I start to wonder if this is all about the sex tape. Does he think it’s easier to pin some bullshit stealing on me instead of the embarrassment of that thing?
“Inside pockets,” he barks.
“Matt,” I sigh, “I fucking swear to you. I’ve not been ste—”
I open the hidden zip pocket at the back that I’m pretty sure I’ve never used, and I gasp in shock.
A dangerous growl rumbles in Matt’s chest before his hand darts out, fishing the stash of notes from the small pocket.
“I didn’t put those there. I had no idea they were there.” He glances up at me from counting it, and I swear, if looks could kill then I’d be six feet under right now. “This has to be a setup. I’ve never stolen a thing in my life.”
“I think it’s probably time you left, Jodie.”
“Matt, please,” I beg, beginning to feel the claws of desperation wrapping around me. “I need this job. Please. I didn’t do this. Check the security footage,” I blurt without thinking. “I’ve never taken a penny from the till. I fucking swear.”
“Jodie, you need to leave,” he says sternly, pushing his chair back and standing, looming over me as if his sheer size will make me run.