Page 72 of Accidental Theirs

I’m here as head accountant for Titan, here to work out all the details and see what we’re standing to gain. Or lose.

There have been rumors…

Even so, it’s really just routine, but I’m hoping to talk to her. I’m hoping that night went a long way to making up for what I did. I’m hoping she wants to get back together.

But I’m afraid to hope for it, especially since she’s been so distant.

I get out of the car and hand the valet my keys.

He nods, and I head up to the security gate, showing my ID badge to the guard, who waves me through, and I walk up the stairs to the catwalk.

The accounting department happens to be nowhere near Olivia’s office, and I curse under my breath.

I’ll have to think up some kind of excuse to go see her, but that should be easy enough after I look over all the documents.

An elegant blonde woman, maybe in her late thirties, sits at the front of the accounting department. She looks up at me and gives me a small smile.

“We’ve been expecting you, Mr. Hayes. I’ve got everything you need.” She puts an intimidating stack of papers on the desk, and my eyes widen.

“Is there a room I can use?”

“Of course.” She stands up.

Her heels click in the big room, and I follow her, hefting the considerable stack up in my hands.

I’m led to a nearby conference room, where I sit at the head of the table.

She doesn’t linger, shutting the door behind her.

I can understand why Titan is interested. Carter Holdings runs like a well-oiled machine. But since they’re a muchsmaller company than Titan, I’m a little worried that the rumors might be true.

My direct supervisor, a rotund man named Edward Marks, told me to look deeply into their finances and to give him a detailed report. Something about the way he phrased it in the email made me concerned, and I’m nervous when I open the first file folder.

All of this is online, of course, stored in their computers, but I don’t have access to the files until the merger is completed.

So, old school it is.

I pull out a red pen from my pocket and start the long, tedious process.

By the time I come up for air, it’s hours later.

I suck in a sharp breath, staring down at the numbers on the calculator I’ve been inputting, and I know for sure what recommendation Edward will give to the higher-ups.

Carter Holdings is nearly broke. It’s not enough to keep operations open for another six months.

As soon as I turn in this report, Edward will recommend dissolving Carter Holdings.

Does Olivia know? She certainly doesn’t act like it.

I have to talk to her. I have to let her know that everything she’s built is crumbling around her.

I put the files back together haphazardly, not caring that they might be out of order, and make my way to Olivia’s office, a floor above the accounting department.

I’m fuming in the elevator, thinking about Damien and how he must know what’s going on.

He’s been lying to her, and even with all his muscles, I could wring his neck.

When the elevator doors open, there she is, standing outside her office, her head thrown back, laughing at something Roland said.