Page 62 of Beauty and the Boss Man

Chapter Twenty-six

Romy

My eyes open to the sound of my phone ringing on the nightstand next to me. I reach over and grab it to look at the screen.

It takes a moment to focus, but when I do, I see Veronica’s name. I figure it must be important for her to call the day before I’m due to come home.

Clearing my throat, I answer, “Hello?”

“Shit, I’m sorry, Romy. I didn’t mean to wake you,” Veronica says.

“It’s fine. I’m up. What’s going on?” I sit up and wipe some of the sleep out of my eyes.

“I didn’t want to call, but I thought it was important.”

“V, cut to the point,” I snap, suddenly feeling a pit in my stomach starting to form.

“Well, when I went to your place to water the plants, someone stopped by to deliver some paperwork for you. I went ahead and signed for them, and you know I’m nosey…”

“Of course,” I say. “Go on.”

“You already know that I opened it and read the papers.”

“And?” I’m losing patience.

“It’s some paperwork about the feds filing charges against your father. They are calling you as a material witness.”

Louder than I mean to, I cry, “What the hell for?”

“Apparently, they found his little off-shore bank accounts, and since all of that money was illegally obtained, they are charging him with new crimes for all of it. They’ve called you to testify against him,” she says.

“Why would I have to testify? I haven’t spoken to him in years!”

“Romy, the accounts were in your name. I imagine they think you have something to do with it.”

Son of a bitch.

My blood boils, but I wish I were more surprised than I actually am. This is sort of par for the course with my father. He’s still just as much of a piece of shit as he’s always been.

“I’ve never touched any of that money. I don’t even want it,” I say.

“Yeah, Romy, we both know that, and it’s easy enough to prove. But it might be a good idea to get a lawyer to keep on retainer until the whole thing is sorted out.”

I know she’s right, but that doesn’t mean that I like it. Lawers are expensive, and I’m not exactly swimming in cash.

She continues, “I didn’t want to call, but I didn’t want you to come home and be blindsided either.”

“No, I get it, V. Thanks for calling.”

“Do you want me to scan the papers and email them to you?” She asks.

I lean back, propping myself up on one arm, and I feel something under my hand. My fingers pick up the small slip of paper, and I look it over.

Coffee run…Be right back.

-A

My mouth instantly curls into a smile at the mere thought of Aiden. Immediately, I’m filled with a pang of disappointment that it’s our last day here.

---