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Chapter Twenty-Eight
Reese
During the drive, I dialed Kane’s number a million times to plead with him, but it always went to voicemail. I phoned Melissa, but that too went to voicemail. Next, I tried Sloane’s number. Once again, voicemail.
The drive to the city took an eternity. As soon as we stopped outside McKenzie Technologies, I jumped out of the car. I thanked Max for the ride, but he didn’t acknowledge me. He just popped the trunk, so I could get my bag.
I marched up the steps to the building, but when I tried to get into the lobby, I was stopped by Tony. The old security guard met me right at the revolving door and put his hands up. “I’m sorry, Miss Peterson, but you can’t come in here.” His face was stern.
“Tony, you know me,” I pleaded. “I’m not here to cause any trouble for anyone.”
His face remained emotionless. “What I know is if you step foot in here again, I’ll call the police. I’ve been instructed.”
“Do you know why?” I asked, trying to reason with him.
He shook his head. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m just doing my job.”
“I need to talk to Sloane,” I said in desperation. “I need to see her.”
He frowned at me. “Then I suggest you wait until she leaves the building because you’re not taking another step forward.”
My shoulders deflated as I let out an exacerbated breath. I glanced at the time on my phone. She wouldn’t leave for another hour.
“I’ll wait,” I said.
“Suit yourself,” he said with a shrug, “but you can’t wait here.” He moved his hands shooing me away, like I was a little kid.
“You’ve already made that clear,” I snapped and turned on my heel to stalk back down the stairs.
I went to the coffee shop across the street and ordered my usual, but I didn’t take one sip. If I had, I would’ve thrown up. I found a table near the window and watched the McKenzie Tech building’s entrance. If Sloane left early, I would see her.
The hour waiting for Sloane was trickling by. I tried to get into my work emails, but my access to everything McKenzie had been cut off.
At the end of my rope, I decided to call my friends. I was certain that rumors had already circulated around the office about me, but Mandy and Eileen wouldn’t care. They knew I would never do this. I dialed Eileen’s cell number. When she picked up, I said, “Eileen. It’s Reese.”
“Reese!” she squealed and then hushed quickly like she put a hand over her mouth. “Hold on,” she whispered. I heard her speaking away from the phone and calling for Mandy. “Okay, we are both here. What’s up? There are so many crazy things being said about you in Watercooler right now.”
“I need both of you to help me,” I explained. “Someone is setting me up. Someone is making it look like I stole millions of dollars from Kane McKenzie. I haven’t. You both know I would never do that. I have to find out who’s doing this to me and why.”
“Shit, that’s not good,” Mandy said into the phone. “I’ll do what I can to help. We both will. Tell us everything you can.”
I smiled, glad to have my friends with me. “The company I’m apparently embezzling money through is called Investpex. I’ve been investigating them for a few weeks. They set up shortly after Kane bought my old company out. I know you both have access to the accounts. Just look them up and get any information you can. I hate to ask you two to do this, but I’m desperate. I’m going to go to prison if I don’t sort this out.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t already been arrested,” Eileen said and then blew out a loud breath. “Leave it with us.”
“Thank you. This means a lot. You two are the best.” I said goodbye and sat back happy to have something going right.
When people started to stream out of McKenzie’s, I left the cafe and waited at the bottom of the steps for Sloane. After ten minutes, I spotted her with Linda. Both were lost in conversation and didn’t notice me.
I stepped into their path, and they both looked up wide-eyed.
“Sloane, we have to talk.”
She rolled her eyes. “I have nothing to say to you, thief. I’m sure Kane McKenzie regrets the day he ever thought you were mentee material. Look at you now. In cahoots with Simon.”
I jabbed a finger in her direction. “You did this. You’re responsible for this.”
She pushed my finger away and cackled. “Like I told you before if I wanted to ruin you, I would do it publicly, and I would take pride in it. Now if you’ll excuse me—” she said pushing past me, “—I don’t talk to scum. Have a nice life in prison. I can’t think of a better place for you.”
