Page 64 of Snowed In with the Bosses

“Lechery. Blackmail. Sexual harassment. Take your pick.” Alexander pressed a button on his desk and the door opened to admit three armed police men. “Thank you, officers. He’s all yours.”

“What? Why?” Allan continued to thrash. “Where’s your evidence?”

“You’ll find out.” I released him and stepped away.

Two policemen took my place, handcuffing Allan and reading his Miranda rights. He shouted and cursed so loud I doubted he heard a word the men said. Oh well. Wasn’t my problem hedidn’t understand every word coming out of his mouth was now part of his trial.

“You’ll be lucky to see the light of day ever again unless there are bars and chain-link fences with razor wire around the top.” My smile never faltered. “Enjoy prison.”

The detective we’d been talking to for weeks stayed back while the two officers pushed Allan from the room. “Appreciate the tip on this one.” He jerked his chin toward Allan. “I’ll have our people go through everything, but he’s looking at a very long prison sentence.”

“Music to my ears.” I held out the copy I’d taken from Allan’s phone. “You should take this with you. You’ll find the same on his phone unless he manages to get it erased or thrown out of court. He’s been stalking women, taking photos from outside their houses.”

The detective took the copy from me and slid it into an evidence bag. “Don’t worry. We won’t let him get away.”

I waited until the door closed behind him to face Alexander and Liam. “Justice.” I fist-bumped Liam.

Alexander remained behind his desk, his hands clenched and his face contorted with fury. He punched the desk, the sound of knuckles on wood reverberating through the room.

Liam and I stood aside until Alexander expelled his anger. “Fucking bastard. That egg-sucker deserves everything that happens to him. Whatever it is, it still won’t be enough to make up for the fear and pain he’s caused so many.” Every word vibrated with animosity.

I’d never seen him like this. Angry, sure. Murderous…not so much. I understood his need to see Allan pay. We’d make sure he ended up behind bars where he belonged. In the meantime, there was something else we needed more. None of this meant shit without Clara. I waited for Alexander to get himself under control before I approached the desk. “While I’m all for Allangetting the ass-kicking he deserves and prison time being the cherry on the whole fucking cake, we need to figure out how we get Clara back.”

“He’s right.” Liam tapped his fingers on the desk in a rapid staccato, his only sign of nervousness. “We’re in love with her. We hurt her, albeit accidentally, and we need to make up for it. That will help.” He pointed in the direction Allan had gone. “A company-wide statement of apology would bring forward more women willing to testify against him.”

“If we go to Clara and tell her about this, she’ll think the only reason we did it was to win back her affection.” Alexander cuffed his desk again before pushing to his full height and striding to the window.

“We’ve never felt like this.” I splayed my hands in front of me. “Don’t even try to argue. We’re in love, and there is nothing I wouldn’t do to have Clara back. If we have to grovel and eat shit, I’ll do it.”

“Let’s hope we don’t resort to that level of depravity.” Alexander’s voice stayed low, but a hint of laughter infiltrated. He looked left and right, his gaze traveling up and down the road splitting Silverbrook. “Should we call her or show up unannounced?”

“Unannounced,” Liam and I said together.

Turning slowly on his heel, Alexander came back around. “I’ll drive.”

Things would be easier if Clara still worked in Summit’s offices. She’d have seen what happened with Allan and known we were on her side. I understood Alexander’s point. It might feel contrived that we’d finally stepped up and taken the man out so he could no longer cause harm.

“Should we bring gifts?” Liam rubbed his hands together. “I found these adorable outfits for the triplets. I’ve been dying to give them to Clara.”

The triplets were the only reason we were still in Clara’s life at all. She’d made it clear she needed time, but we refused to be pushed out of our children’s lives. Clara tolerated our presence at her prenatal appointments and had even let us hear the heartbeats during the last ultrasound. It wasn’t enough, but we gave her space like she requested.

“Bring them. It can’t hurt. We’re not trying to buy her affections.” Alexander led the way through the building.

Cheers rose up from every room we passed. Women we’d barely seen in passing rushed to the doorways and thanked us profusely. Accepting the thanks came with reassurances that nothing like that would ever happen again, with Liam coming along behind and reminding everyone to never be afraid to talk about any indignity suffered within Summit.

By the time we made it to Clara’s after stopping for Liam to pick up the bag of toys and clothes for the babies, my entire body prickled with the need to see Clara and to know for certain that she was safe, even if she continued to avoid starting a relationship with us again.

The walk up the sidewalk and to her door set my pulse racing.

She must have heard our arrival, because she opened the door before we even knocked. “I heard what you did to Allan.” She waved her phone. “Robbie called me.” She’d stopped trying to hide her pregnancy after the Halloween debacle. Her belly had changed in the week since we’d last seen her, stretching wider and dropping lower.

“We came to apologize again.” Alexander started the conversation but fell silent when Liam burst in front of him.

Liam shoved the bags toward Clara. “These are not bribery gifts. They’re unconditional love tokens. We were assholes. We should have kept you in the loop the whole time. We’ll do anything you want to prove we’ve changed.”

“We love you, Clara. Every heartbeat is for you. Liam’s right. Tell us what you need from us and we’ll do it.” I longed to reach out to her but held back until she welcomed me. It was the most restraint that had ever been required of me. I did it for her, because it was what she needed.

“I have to finish work.” She walked backward into the house, holding the door open with one hand. “We’ll talk about all of this once we’re done.” A tiny, tiny smile appeared. “Harrington wants another meeting. I was about to call you all and have you come over. Make yourselves comfortable while I contact Harrington.”

---