Page 39 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

Whatever happened, though, I’d make it right. I’d protect Mia from whatever fallout this mess created. I always did things my way, and I’d fix this my way, too. Nobody messed with the people I cared about. And I cared about Mia. More than I’d ever wanted to admit.

The skyline of Cedar Cove finally came into view as I rounded the last bend. My pulse quickened as I pushed the car harder. I didn’t slow down until I pulled through the park’s gate. Finally, my tires skidded slightly as I came to a halt in front of her cabin.

I’d barely put the car in park before I jumped out and made a beeline for her door. My heart was pounding, not just from the drive but from the thought of seeing Mia. She was in there, probably pacing, her mind running a million miles an hour, just like mine.

I knocked once—barely a tap—before the door swung open. There she was, beautiful Mia, eyes wide and filled with something between relief and fear. Seeing her like that hit me harder than I expected. I’d been so focused on getting to her, the facts, and what I needed to do, but seeing her, knowing she’d been scared, made it all real.

Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms, her body folding into mine like she belonged there. I could feel her trembling, her breath quick and shallow against my chest. I held her tighter as if that would make everything okay.

“I’m here,” I murmured into her hair. “I’ve got you.”

For a second, she didn’t say anything. She just held onto me like I was the only thing keeping her grounded. I could feel her heartbeat, rapid and unsteady, and it made something tighten in my chest.

Finally, she pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes searching my face. “I didn’t know you’d make it this fast.”

“I promised I would be here," I murmured, my voice gentle and soothing. "You don't have to worry about anything now."

"Are you sure?" She furrowed her brow, her fingertips lightly tracing over my arm.

Gently, I lifted her chin so our eyes met. "I'm more worried about you. That's all that matters."

Her expression softened, but I could still see the weight of everything pressing on her. The files, the fear, and Derek’s possible involvement were all hanging between us, and we both knew it. But for now, I just wanted her to know I was here.

“I... I didn’t know what to do,” she admitted. “When I saw those numbers, I realized something was wrong, and I couldn’t think straight.”

“You did the right thing by letting me know.” I ran a hand down my face, glancing toward the living room, where papers were scattered across the coffee table. “Let’s go over what you found. I need to see it.”

We moved inside and sat on the couch. Mia had her laptop open and a pile of papers spread out across the coffee table. She looked uneasy like she didn’t even know where to start. I leaned back, trying to shake off the rush from the drive, but the tension in the room made it hard to relax.

“This is what I found,” she started, her voice tight. “There are transactions—big ones—that don’t add up. Payments to Golden Rock Consulting, but there’s barely any work done for it. The money just... disappears.”

I frowned, leaning forward to look at the screen. My jaw tightened when I saw Derek’s name pop up multiple times in the emails. He was all over this.

“Derek’s name is everywhere,” she continued, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through the files. “It looks like he’s tied to all of it. But... Liam...”

Her voice trailed off, and I knew where this was going before she even said it.

She swallowed hard, finally looking up at me. “Are you involved in this? Are you trying to shift the blame onto someone else? I just... I have to know.”

The question hit me hard. My gut twisted, but I didn’t flinch. I reached for her hand, pulling her closer, needing her to see the truth in my eyes.

“Why the hell would I steal from my own company?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “Mia, if I wanted to cheat the system, I wouldn’t need to set up some shell company to funnel cash. Icould just cook the books and hide a few million here or there. I’ve been running Edgewater for years. If I wanted to skim off the top, I wouldn’t be sloppy about it.”

Her brows furrowed as she listened like she was still processing everything. “But...”

“I’m not a thief, Mia,” I cut in, my tone firm. “I built Edgewater from nothing. Why would I throw it all away for a couple of cheap scams? If anyone’s guilty here, it looks like it’s Derek. He’s the one pulling the strings, not me. And if it’s true, it will make me very sad.”

She looked down at our hands, her fingers tangled with mine. The doubt in her expression started to soften, but I could still see the conflict in her eyes. “I... I didn’t know what to think. I was scared, and I didn’t know who to trust.”

I let out a slow breath, pulling her even closer until her forehead rested against mine. “I get it,” I murmured. “But you can trust me. I’d never put you in a position like this if I had something to hide. You’re the one person I never want to lie to, Mia.”

She closed her eyes, her breath shuddering out as she let the words sink in. “Okay. I believe you.”

For a second, we just sat there in silence. The tension that had been gnawing at both of us slowly started to ease. I could feel her relaxing against me, her body leaning into mine as if she’d finally found solid ground.

But then she quietly said, “What will you do about Derek?”

I rubbed my temples. “I’m going to handle him. Don’t worry. He’s not getting away with this, even if he is a friend. I promise you that.”

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