Page 96 of Infinite

“Damn,” Hale says.

“It’s not official, but I’ve spoken to enough people at the bureau to know you’re off the hook,” Mason says. “The Feds still have to go through the evidence from Cooling’s and Malroy’s offices, but it looks good for you and really bad for them.”

Hale flips through the folder and through stacks of what appear to be letters. “What’s all this?”

“Becca wasn’t the only one looking out for your character,” Mason says. “Those are signed statements of support from your clients, praising you for what you did for them and how you always gave it to them straight.” He points to the hand-written letter on top. “I think you’ll find the one from Mrs. Valez especially touching.”

I cover my mouth. Hale doesn’t speak, holding the letter delicately in his hands. “Thank you,” he says.

“My pleasure,” Mason replies. “Come on, Sean. Momma’s expecting us at her place.” He looks at us. “We’re not going back to New York until tomorrow. How about dinner later? Trin and Callahan are promising to be back. They want us over at Landon’s. He and his fiancée have been so busy planning their wedding, they’re missing their family and friends.”

“Yeah,” Hale says, taking in my grin. “It’ll be nice to see all of y’all.”

They leave, Sean still munching on his cereal as they quietly close the door behind them. “It’s going to be okay,” I tell Hale, kissing his cheek.

He meets my gaze. “Becca, my love, it has to be.”

Epilogue

Hale

Summer arrived to lift our spirits and fall followed with almost as much enthusiasm. But winter was the best part of that year. All charges against me were dropped and I was given a very sincere and heartfelt apology from the new head of the FBI. The Feds destroyed Cooling and Malroy with all the evidence they discovered, along with eleven more of their associates, including my former intern, Clark.

The Feds assured Clark he’d get a lighter sentence if he cooperated, and he did. The little bastard barely received five years. Pretty good, given his pals received $5,000,000 fines and up to twenty-year terms.

Cooling and Malroy had flung mud on the wrong man. Not only did everything they attempted to do to me and the rest of their competitors turn against them, the investigation revealed there were a long list of victims. Cooling and Malroy had been doing this shit for years, placing pawns in almost every investment firm in the city and using their hard-earned research to make them rich.

It worked for a while, sure, as this sleazy shit often does, but then they got greedy and there’s a reason greed is one of the seven deadly sins.

I scroll through my emails as the spring sun beats down on me, my phone pressed against my ear.

“Did the merger go through?” I ask.

“Yes, Hale,” Neesa answers. “Every one of your clients who invested tripled the earnings on their stocks.”

“Okay. I wasn’t sure you’d get everything done, Jayla.”

She sighs. “When have I ever not done everything you’ve asked?”

“I’m not saying you don’t work hard, Martina,” I assure her. “I’m just saying you’re often distracted with my boy Mason’s tongue down your throat.”

“Don’t be an asshole,” she snaps. “It’s Friday and I’m trying to get out of here so we don’t miss our plane to Kiawah.”

Like I can’t picture her blushing. “Now, is that any way for my newest associate and potential future Vice President of Wilder Investments to talk to the big boss?” I ask. I adjust the blanket around me and Becca when the wind picks up. Yes, we’re outside, and yes, we’re very much naked.

The pause is almost as dramatic as I expect. “What did you say?” she asks.

“Aw, nothing’,” I add in my thickest southern accent. “I’m just making you an offer, is all. Go to business school. I’ll pay for it and spend the next few years grooming you to take over.” I look over at Becca. “I have better things to do with my time.”

“Hale, you’re . . . I’m going to . . . oh . . . youasshole.”

She starts crying. Neesa is cute that way. “See you tonight,” I say.

Becca is still yapping away on her phone, giving her assistant some final instructions. I slip back into my black sweatpants and jog back into the house to do some prep work, including popping open a nice bottle of champagne.

Today marks the first full week Platinum PR has been in full operation. Those spreads Becca organized to save my rep? Anyone and everyone saw them, helping her become the most sought-after publicist in the country.

Now, instead of working for the Cougars, Becca works for herself here in Kiawah or back in our penthouse in New York.

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