Page 17

17

Ella

J ack wasn’t able to pick me up on Tuesday or today, as he thought. He said because of one of his employee’s wife having a baby, he got pulled into a high-profile personal security job that he had to take care of himself.

I’m unsure what to make of our last few encounters. He has yet to kiss me again since the night he showed up at the restaurant. But he did tell me I was not his last priority. While it wasn’t exactly a declaration of deep feelings, it still meant a lot to me. Even if I’m not exactly sure what that means to him. He’s been kind and caring to me, but there’s still a part of me that’s afraid he’s only doing that so it isn’t awkward between us while he’s helping me out. That would explain why it’s stopped there. The most I’ve gotten are a few kisses on my forehead and some lingering hugs.

But if I stop being selfish, I can admit that’s probably for the best. Guilt for the problems I’m causing him with having to find people to be with me when I leave my apartment makes my stomach hurt. The last thing he needs is to have to deal with me and my issues in a personal relationship.

I shove those thoughts out of my head as I gather everything I need for work. Jack texted me about thirty minutes ago that Ian would be driving me again today. I met Ian yesterday when he picked me up. He and I bonded over our love of hockey when I saw his travel coffee mug featuring the local hockey team. We had an in-depth and lively conversation about the upcoming season during the ride to work and again back home.

The thought of work has my chest getting tight from anxiety. Not only do I have a ton of work to do, but I need to figure out the game plan for the fraud I’m even more convinced is happening after the last few days with Craig. He’s making me uncomfortable. I would love to just go to Mark with my suspicions, but I’m concerned with my lack of proof that it’s, in fact, Craig, or what exactly he’s doing, that Mark won’t believe me. He and Craig have worked together for fifteen years, so why would he believe me over Craig?

My phone vibrates to alert me that Ian’s here. I grab my bag and purse and walk downstairs, thoughts racing with what I need to do today.

Ian greets me warmly. If I hadn’t met him the way I did, I would probably have been intimidated. He’s bulky from a massive amount of muscle and always has a severe expression on his face. I considered it a personal accomplishment yesterday, the one time I got him to break it with even a hint of a smile.

Staring out the window as he pulls away from the curb, I shift so I can look at him. “Ian, can I ask your advice on something? ”

He frowns as he throws me a side-eye. “I guess.”

“I already know what I should do. But have you ever struggled to do the right thing because you don’t know how you’ll be impacted? Even if you did nothing wrong?” I pick at my nail before continuing. “And you don’t have to tell me that self-interest isn’t the best reason not to do what I should do.”

Every day I walk into work, my conscience screams at me that I should have brought my suspicions to Mark a lot earlier. But things don’t always end well for whistleblowers.

And to be completely honest, I’m scared.

I don’t have a family to fall back on if I lose my job. I don’t have a lot of, or really any, friends to rely on.

I have no one but myself.

Ian is quiet for a long moment. I wonder if he’ll answer me until he finally says, “You have every right to be worried about you. If you didn’t have some sense of self-preservation, I would be worried. At the end of the day, you just have to decide. If you don’t do whatever you think is the right thing, are you going to be able to live with yourself?” He clears his throat roughly. “But I will warn you, even when you do the right thing, or at least what you think is the right thing in the moment, your life can still go to shit.”

I slump back in my seat. His demeanor is of someone who’s speaking from personal experience. And what he said makes perfect sense and is exactly what I’ve been worried about.

We’re both lost in thought when he finally stops in front of my work, and I turn to face him.

“Call me if you need anything. I’ll see you after work.”

“Thanks, Ian.” I climb out of his vehicle and walk inside, an uneasy dread swirling around me.

I click send and slump back into my chair.

Rubbing my forehead in frustration, I look back at my computer monitor. Craig wasn’t wrong on Monday. I’ve spent the last two days poring over it, and there was a mistake in my report.

I have no idea how that happened. But based on the files currently saved in the folder, he’s correct. I squint at the screen. I don’t even have the old files to compare to because this is the folder I use, and almost all of them have a save date of yesterday, which means I have no idea what the difference was. Or even where to start to figure it out.

Tapping my pen on the desk, I’m lost in thought when a knock on my doorframe makes me yelp.

I laugh and smile. “Sorry, Mark. I was apparently too engrossed in this report.” His somber expression causes my smile to slip. “What can I do for you?”

He purses his lips briefly. “Can you come to the conference room for a few?”

My stomach drops as I swallow hard. “Absolutely.”

I follow him down the short hall to the conference room. He pushes the door open, and as I step into the room behind him, I meet the menacing gaze of Craig.

I don’t know what this is about, but whatever it is, it’s not good.

Lowering slowly into the chair, I attempt to maintain my composure. I clasp my trembling hands in my lap, forcing my facial expression to be fully neutral. I refuse to allow Craig to intimidate me.

Mark takes the seat next to Craig. He clears his throat as he rolls the chair closer to the table. Picking up a stack of papers, he taps them against the table to straighten them. The noise is deafening.

Craig continues to glower at me. Ignoring him, I keep my eyes locked on Mark.

Mark clears his throat one more time before speaking. “Ella, we wanted to talk to you about a few things that Craig has recently come across in reviewing some of your work.”

I cannot throw up.

I nod slowly, not knowing how to respond.

Brow furrowed in disappointment, Mark slides a piece of paper after paper across the table. My shaking hands raise and bring it closer to me. Immediately, I start shaking my head when I see what it is. “No,” is all I can breathe out.

The creaking of Craig’s chair brings my eyes up.

“Yes, Ella. When I found the discrepancy on the budget report, it made me look closer at some of the other things you have been working on. And I felt some of these looked unusual. I have confirmed that these five payments were not made to these companies. And the companies confirmed they never sent these invoices. And you approved all these payments.” There’s a hint in his voice that he’s almost eager, and if I wasn’t sick to my stomach, I’d want to reach across the table and throttle him.

My face tingles as tears fill my eyes. All I can do is shake my head. This cannot be happening. Knowing there’s no reasoning with Craig, I focus on Mark.

“Mark, I didn’t do whatever is going on. I noticed some inconsistencies in expenses and payments a while ago. But I’ve been trying to figure out what was happening so I could present the evidence to you.”

Craig lets out a bark of a laugh. “Very convenient timing, Ella. You expect us to believe you when you only bring this up when you’re caught? ”

Anger flares through me. “You didn’t catch me in anything, Craig.” I spit out his name.

“Ella, calm down,” Mark chides.

At that, I cannot contain myself. “Calm down, Mark? You want me to calm down?” I lace my fingers and drop my hands to my lap. “Got it. Please continue with the accusations.”

Mark and Craig exchange a glance. I wait patiently with my eyebrows raised. Under the table and away from their view, I squeeze my hands tightly together to keep myself grounded.

“Well, we’re still investigating. But we feel this suspicion is grounds for immediate termination.”

Fuck.

Craig nods. “Yes, Mark is correct. We still have numerous general ledger accounts to analyze, but once that’s complete, we’ll turn everything over to the authorities and let them take it from there.”

Double fuck.

My anger subsides and trepidation takes its place as the possibilities of what could happen to me sink in. Last night, when I talked to Dorothy, the worst-case scenario was that I would be fired for reporting my findings. Not that I would be the one accused of it.

Chest burning, I take a deep breath. “Okay, what happens now?”

Mark leans forward, his hands clasped on the table. He glances at the clock on the wall. “Someone from Human Resources should be waiting for you in the hall. They’ll escort you back to your office so you can gather your personal belongings, and then they’ll walk you out.”

I physically cannot respond. Everything in my body is fighting against itself. I push out of my chair on unsteady legs, pivoting toward the door without another glance in their direction.

Packing my office is a blur. I don’t have much, so it doesn’t take me long. Keeping my breathing deep, I work to keep my tears at bay, at least until I get to my car. Once the last item is secured in my bag, I look at Martha, the HR Director. She has always been so lovely. I can’t even imagine what she must think of me. “I’m done.”

All I receive is a nod, and she gestures for me to lead the way. I avoid the stares of my former coworkers as I walk through the office. It’s unusually quiet, which makes the low murmurs as I pass by sound as if they’re yelling.

As I draw closer to the door, my stomach drops even more, knowing I’m about to pass Maggie. This probably won’t bode well for our blossoming friendship.

A gasp follows me as I pass her. I never look up. I can’t. My few shreds of dignity won’t allow me to see whatever shocked, judgmental expression is most likely on her face.

The humidity is oppressive as I push through the heavy front doors. I take a step out, not looking behind me to find out if she’s following me into the parking lot.

“Thank you for not making a scene, Ella.” Martha’s words sting. As if I have ever, in the past five years, have made a scene. About anything.

I don’t acknowledge her as I mechanically walk to my usual parking spot.

“Ella!”

My name being shouted has me halting.

Dazed, I pivot to spy Maggie running through the parking lot toward me.

“Ella, what the fuck is going on?” she exclaims, slightly out of breath .

I raise one shoulder and shake my head. Tears start slipping down my cheeks. “I got fired.”

“What? That doesn’t make sense. You’re one of the hardest working people here.” Maggie throws her hands up in confusion.

I roll my lips over my teeth for a moment and close my eyes, trying to gain some composure. When I level my stare back at her, I’m unbelievably grateful there’s no judgment anywhere on her face. “They think I did something I didn’t.”

Maggie closes the distance between us and pulls me in for a hug. “I’m so sorry, Ella. I’m sure they’ll realize that couldn’t be farther from the truth.”

When she releases me, I don’t bother to argue with her. If Craig really is behind this, I have my doubts. I’ll just have to wait for how far this goes.

“Thanks, Maggie,” is the only response I can muster.

She gives me one last sympathetic look and a light squeeze to where she grips my biceps. “I’m going to call you later to check on you, okay?”

I nod, and she hesitantly turns and leaves me.

I look around the parking lot in confusion, more tears streaming down my face.

“Damn it.” My sob breaks as I pull my phone out of my purse and connect the call.

One ring and Ian’s deep voice booms through the speaker, “Ella, do you need something?”

“Ian, I need you to come pick me up.” My voice is shaky.

“Fuck.” Rustling is loud through the phone. “I’ll be there in ten.”

I disconnect and stumble half a block from the building to a bus stop. My legs are unstable as I collapse down to the bench, shoulders dropping as I rub my forehead .

Just when you think it can’t get any worse, life reminds you that it doesn’t give a shit about you.