Page 52 of Obeying Mr Kingsley

“He’s not innocent.He lied to me about his password not working.”I cried, spiraling.

“Lexi, you were not legally allowed to give those details to anyone.Not even me.”Mr.Harrow chided.“You signed the agreement, which explicitly outlined your responsibilities.”

I hadn’t been able to argue with that.He was right.Johnathan had coerced me into giving them to him.The threat of no one getting paid, the way he had forced himself on me that Friday night.

I had breached the contract.

I slumped back into my seat and knew my fate was sealed.

That I would lose my job.

That I was in big trouble.

“I know,” I said quietly.“I wanted everyone to get paid.I trusted him.”I shot a dark look toward Johnathan.“I guess I got played.”

He almost smiled but caught himself.

The mediator took his time, scrolling through notes, going in and out of the room while my stress levels skyrocketed.

“We can only deal with the facts.Harrow & Armstrong Engineering does not want to take legal action.They would like the funds returned.”

I sat up straight.“I don’t have them!I’m innocent.”

“Ms.Grant, take tonight to think about this situation.”

I had nothing to think about.I was innocent.

“The company could charge you with embezzlement or fraud if they press charges.”

Fuck, I’d almost passed out.

“Go ahead and charge my client,” my lawyer had said as I’d almost passed out.“You have no proof of the money being transferred to her account.Nor that this Swiss account exists in her name.”

Oh.

“Let’s go, Ms.Grant,” he’d said, standing and earning the four figures I had to pay him.“I recommend you end her employment, draw up a document that concludes neither party will charge one other, and let this entire situation rest.”

I still don’t know how he did it, but they agreed.

The lawyer said the cost to litigate would have exceeded the amount lost.

“He knew.Johnathan knew.”I had almost whispered to myself.

When my lawyer was quiet, I glanced up at him.“You don’t believe me.”

He shrugged.“It’s not my job to decide where you are innocent or guilty.It was to get you off.”

I hated hearing that.

“I am innocent.I would never steal from anyone.”

When my parents sat in front of me, unsure of the truth, it had broken a piece of me inside.

Then bloody Mason calls me a gold digger.

I swear to god, I just need one person on my side.Just one.I desperately need Emily to say she believes me.

“I swear it’s all true,” I tell her, wiping the tears away, hating that this situation has almost broken me.