Page 74 of Desolation

The last few days with Landon have been amazing. I know we are supposed to just be having casual sex and that we are just friends, but every night we spend together I feel closer to him. Connected.

I know he feels it too.

I can feel it in the way he kisses me. The way he asks me to stay with him every night. The way he holds me.

I know it won’t be long before Dax asks me what the hell is going on between us.

He said he’s made progress with the accounts that donated money to my non-profit but he hasn’t given me any details or let me know he has a solution. I’m worried he won’t find anything and all this work I put into hiding will be for nothing. The government will find me and accuse me of money laundering.

I flip through the files he has given me to look over to see if I recognize any names when my phone rings and see my CFO calling.

“Hello.”

“Hey Mariela, how’s it going?”

“Like shit,” I laugh into the phone. “I feel like I have made zero progress.”

“Girl, it’s been weeks. I can feel the staff getting antsy wondering where you are.”

I groan into the phone. “I’m trying Rebecca. But my friend hasn’t made much progress.”

“Fuck.” She sighs into the phone.

“I know. Do they not think I am taking a much needed break?”

“They did at first. But it’s been three weeks, Mariela. They know something is going on.”

“Well, they know about the divorce. They don’t think I needed the break from work?”

“They did at first but there have been rumors.”

Shit. “I promise I’ll be back soon.”

“I know. And I get it. I swear. I mean it’s mostly been business as usual.”

I slouch in my chair. “What do you mean mostly? I’ve been working. It shouldn’t look suspicious.”

She clears her throat and I know she isn’t telling me something. “What is it, Becs?”

“Hold on.” I hear her shut a door and then the creak of her office chair. “I didn’t want to tell you this. I was hoping you would have some answers by now. But…”

“But what?”

“The Feds have been sniffing.” I stiffen at her words. “Now obviously we haven’t used that money or moved it or done anything with it but I think they were tipped off by someone.”

“Most of that money has been there for almost six months. And those new deposits we haven’t touched either.”

“Which is why I think it’s weird. Why would they be looking into things now?”

“Michael.” I say sternly.

“You really think it’s him?”

I rub my eyes and stand, walking to the windows in my bedroom that view the ocean. “My lawyer sent over the finalized proceedings last week.”

“I just don’t know what this would have to do with any of that.”

“If I am found guilty of embezzlement or money laundering, I’ll end up in jail. He’ll look like a victim and get full custody of the kids.” And probably find some way to use this to gain points in his future presidential campaign.

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