Page 12 of Whispered Desire

Rally one more time.

CHAPTER SEVEN

MATHIAS

To:Mathias Beaumont; Blackchapel Incorporated

From:Allison Fields

Subject:A Banking Error?

To Whom It May Concern:

I’m investigating the unexpected deposit of a large sum of money into my private checking account. The transaction went through sometime last night. I’m attaching a screenshot for reference.

Please let me know how we can rectify this situation.

Thank you!

Allison Fields

***

The surprise message from Allison steals my focus from the man indicating where I should sign to complete the Petit deal. She’s questioning the validity of one million dollars in her bank account?

I suppose it’s smart, but most people wouldn’t balk at such a windfall. They’d accept fate—whether from an error or not—and go on their merry way, but not my confounding guardian angel.

“One more signature here, sir.” Another document slides in front of me, and I scratch my name across the bottom, right next to Louis Petit’s flamboyant penmanship. Big swoops and exaggerated lines.

He hasn’t spoken much during this final meeting between our business attorneys to close the deal, but that isn’t to say he hasn’t gotten his message across. Muted glares and annoyed huffs have wafted across the long conference table the past forty-five minutes.

He’s pissed.

Losing one’s company due to outmaneuvering will do that to a person. Even if it does come with a sizable purchase price.

I type a quick message to the woman who checks Blackchapel Inc.’s corporate email account, telling her to ignore Allison’s message because I’ll deal with it personally, before opening a new email draft.

***

To:Allison Fields

From:Mathias Beaumont

Subject:RE: A Banking Error?

There wasn’t an error. The deposit is legal and final.

Mathias Beaumont

CEO of Blackchapel Incorporated

***

After weeks of working to uncover D’Amora’s motive for wanting Luca dead and closing the Petit deal, you’d think my time would be fully occupied, yet my thoughts continued to drift to Allison.

Especially after responding to her email and receiving nothing in return.

Except for the knowledge that she still hasn't spent the money I put in her bank account as payment for saving my life.

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