Page 104 of The Attraction File

“What? You had to have gotten this folder from somewhere.”

Grace nodded and took a breath, finally understanding what I was asking. “Yes, from Mr. Mimir’s desk. He called me at my desk. Told me he had a folder for me to give Ms. Bechmann. I stopped by on my way to break and saw his office was empty and there was a folder on his desk. I just assumed that was what he was talking about. I had no idea what was in there.”

She was trembling again, and we sat for a few minutes until she calmed.

I didn’t want to believe it. I still don’t want to believe that my brother may be the bad person the guy in the alley warned me about.

My brother was smart. You had to be smart to create a billion-dollar company from nothing. Yet, he so easily believed the detectives that Ashton killed himself when it was obvious he had been murdered.

Jacob was laughing and winking at the detectives. Now the picture in the folder. My heart didn’t know whether to shatter in heartbreak or explode in anger.

I told Grace to take the rest of the day off as she was still shaken up. Then I grabbed the folder and headed straight toward my brother’s office. I wanted to punch something, preferably his face.

How dare he gain the trust of so many hard-working people only to use them for some sick gain. Wasn’t his wealth and respect in this town, if not the country, enough for him. And our mother. Her heart would break when she found out.

I may not be her favorite, but I loved her and never wanted to see her unhappy. This would destroy her.

As I approached his door his assistant, Kara, stopped me.

“Oh, Mr. Mimir. He’s in there with Mr. Payne at the moment. I can buzz him and ask if it’s okay for you to come in?”

I nodded. What was Henrik doing here? Was he a part of it too?

Fuck, I was so confused and my anger had my mind racing with terrible thoughts.

“Mr. Mimir—”

“Kara, I’ve told you a thousand times, call me Jacob.”

I’ll be happy to call him something.

“Yes, Jacob. Mr. Mimir is here to meet with you.”

“Edgar’s there? Oh, send him in. He will want to hear the good news.”

She waved me forward and I opened the door. My brother’s office was big. The biggest in the building. When he first picked it out of all the rooms in the building I didn’t think much of it. It made sense that the president and founder of the company had the biggest office.

But now it seemed garish to me. The gold frames that held pictures of dignitaries and celebrities he had met just behind him on a table for all to see. It made sense now. He wanted everyone to know how big he was, how important he was. My brother wanted to intimidate them with his office.

The problem was, he never intimidated me. Not once in my life was I scared of my big brother. Even when he threw punches when we were kids and Mom wasn’t looking. I never cried. Because he was family and I knew he still loved me.

Now I wonder if he was capable of love? To put so many people at risk. His own workers lives just for some false power or dirty money.

My brother stood and walked around the desk with his arms stretched as I entered. “Edgar, have you heard the news?”

That you’re a common criminal? Yeah, I figured it out.

I shook my head.

“Henrik is getting married. Can you believe it? He finally realized how great having people to love really is.” My brother smiled, pulling both me and Henrik into a hug.

If anything would shock me into temporarily forgetting about my brother being a crook, it was news of Henrik getting married.

“Congratulations, Henrik.” I smiled and shook his hand after my brother let go of us.

My brother patted Henrik on the back. “We’ll throw an engagement party next week.”

“Okay, well I have to get going. Got to head back to work. Just wanted to stop by to tell you in person. You helped me so much when I needed it most, Jacob, that I wanted you to be the first one I told.” Henrik was unusually emotional.

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