Page 68 of Fairy Tale Lies
Greta wanted to shout at her mother to stop calling Jacob a drug dealer. To stop spitting out his name like it was a dirty word. Instead, she was shocked into silence, as her father answered her mother’s question.
“Because, Sophia, if you bothered to learn more than Mr. Grimm’s police record, you would have known he is the perfect man for fixing Nigel’spreciouswatch.”
Greta’s heart plummeted at the same time her guilt skyrocketed. She’d hoped to fix this before it got to her father.
He stepped fully into the room, eyeing Will and Greta, yet keeping his focus on his ex-wife.
Clearly rattled, Mother faced her ex-husband. “What are you doing here, Charles? This has nothing to do with you.”
“In fact, yes, it does. Mr. Grimm is one of my clients, and this type of thing could ruin him. A felony charge would automatically cancel his contract, damaging his business expansion before it even got off the ground.”
Her father set a file on the table and gave his ex-wife a hard stare. “If I were you, I would worry more about Mr. Grimm suing you for slander than my presence here.”
Greta was speechless. Her father was here to help Jacob?
“This isn’t baseless slander.” Sophia peered past her ex-husband, probably hoping her so-called proof would walk through the door. “I’ve read his file and have a witness to the theft. You’re the one who’s made a mistake, taking on that unsavory man as a client. You should be grateful. I’ve saved you from further dealings with him.”
“My clients are none of your business,” Charles replied wearily. “However, this supposed theft is.”
“There is no supposed. I have a witness.”
“Your witness is wrong. And you have your daughter telling you she loaned the watch to Mr. Grimm.”
Sophia opened and closed her mouth, as if the truth was physically strangling her. “She’s covering for him,” she stammered. “Trying to protect her reprobate lover. I bet it’s how he got out of the last arrest too. A guy like him uses women.”
Wow. Denial is a powerful thing.
Charles scoffed. “Now you’re inventing stories.”
Mother crossed both arms over her chest, manicured nails tapping on slim biceps. “Oh, and I suppose you know the truth. Go ahead, Charles, spin your fairy tale version of that man’s life. Let’s hear it.”
“There’s no fairy tale, and yes, I know the whole story.Unlike you.An extensive background check is done on every potential client. Mr. Grimm’s so-called drug charge was nothing more than a mistake, a formality if you will. Everyone in the house was arrested during the raid. Later, the police sorted the guilty from the innocent. One of my people spoke to an officer from the precinct where the drug charge originated. Jacob’s only fault was being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Mother appeared ready to argue. Father held up a hand. “As for tonight’s ludicrous arrest, I also have a witness. This person saw Greta give Jacob the watch, with the request to repair it.”
I’m a fool. How did I manage to underestimate my father’s kindness and loyalty?
She wasn’t surprised her father knew Jacob’s history. He vetted all possible clients. No. What amazed her was he genuinely cared. He could’ve sent a lackey. Instead, he came here himself, in the middle of the night, to make sure a wrong was righted.
Tears of gratitude pooled at the back of her eyes. She’d never admired her father more.
“Now, you have to decide, Sophia, do you want to continue this farce? It’d be such great gossip.” He bracketed his hands like reading a news breaking headline. “‘Next up-and-coming businessman falsely accused of theft by girlfriend’s malicious mother.’ Not only will you appear spiteful, but foolish. This will surely keep the gossip mills spinning for months…”
Chapter Twenty-Six
O’Brien unlocked Jacob’s cell. “Grimm, you’re free to go.”
Jacob glanced from the bench, letting his hands dangle between his knees. “Is this a joke?”
“Nope. No joke.” O’Brien opened the door. “You can pick up the Rolex and the rest of your stuff before you leave.
“Is this what you guys do for shits and giggles? Arrest people in the middle of the night.” He stood, stretching his arms wide. “Toss them in a cell. Let them loose an hour later. My lawyer hasn’t even arrived yet.”
“This has nothing to do with us. There was a complaint and enough to bring you in. The charges have been dropped. That’s it.”
“Where’s your partner? He didn’t want to be the one who let me loose?”
O’Brien didn’t take the bait. Figuring it best not to press his luck too much, no matter his pissy mood, Jacob started toward the exit. Before he could slip past, O’Brien held his hand in a “stop” gesture.
