Page 61 of Enticing the Fixer

Two women from the mailroom step off the elevator and wave. “Ms. Monroe.”

“Hey, girls.”Thank God.My shoulders slump as the adrenaline washes out of my body. I’m not typically a praying girl, but I might be a believer now. “Headed out for a late lunch?”

“Yes.” Eliza shifts the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder. “One of the deliveries was late due to a pile-up on the interstate, so we’re behind.”

“Why don’t you take an extra thirty minutes for your troubles.” I step out from between the vehicles because waiting in front of the Jeep for it to move when no one is inside would make me look ridiculous.

Ethan’s BMW backs out of the space and turns the other direction toward the exit.

“Thank you.” Eliza beams like I’ve given them a Christmas present when they’re the ones who’ve potentially saved my life.

Once they’re in their cars, I slip onto the elevator and sag into the wall. What in the hell was that about? Was he warning me or threatening me? I’ve got to find Leo.

Me: Where are you?

The screen remains blank.

Me: Do you have a second to get away? I need to run something past you.

Nothing. Great. I slide my cell phone back into my purse. The desire to barge into the accounting department and tell him everything is overwhelming. But me singling out the new guy would ruin our low profile at work.

I straighten my shoulders and ease away from the wall. No matter what happens, I’m not letting someone bully me. I shudder from my shoulders to my ankles. Or kill me.

As I’m walking down the sidewalk toward the front doors, Leo steps around the side of the building with his phone to his ear. No wonder he didn’t answer.

At the end of the sidewalk, I turn toward the side of the building rather than climbing the front steps. I need his input on whether I should call the police on Ethan or if I’m being dramatic.

He leans his shoulder against the brick wall. “I’m outside. I can’t afford for anyone to hear me.” He pauses for a second. “It’s possible.”

I stop mid-step. Did he find out something? My heart sputters in my chest. If he did, why didn’t he tell me? He owes me that much. Yes, he was hired by someone to investigate my company and me by default, but I thought we’d gotten to a place where he’d put me first.

Was that a ploy? A way to get inside information. Is he playing me?

“The IP address is Kinsley’s computer. The one in her office. And the deposits are going into a bank account under her name.”

What in the holy fuck?

My breath catches in my lungs as the world turns gray and narrows until the only thing I see is his frame against the wall. The dumpster in the back of the alley has disappeared. The pile of gravel that needs spread has faded away. The only thing in my vision is his back and the phone up to his ear.

“Yeah, I’ll bring her in.”

It can’t be true. I didn’t send the virus to steal my client information, and I sure didn’t set up an account to siphon money out of my business. That’s ridiculous. Why would I do that?

Why am I trying to convince myself that I didn’t commit a crime? A tear slides down my cheek. He thinks I’m guilty. That’s why he didn’t come to me. And why he’s hiding in the alley.

I’ve got to get out of here. Does he think I’ve bugged his office? Bile rises in my throat as pain shoots through my head. It’s too much. Everything is too much. The tattoo. The confrontation in the parking garage. Finding Leo hiding in the alley, plotting to get me arrested for theft.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Leo

The sound of gravel slipping jerks me back to the alley from the conversation with Truman. Who’s listening? Every muscle in my body tightens as my years of running the security portion of our business operations kick in.

I spin on my heel, prepared to take someone down. Only to see Kinsley speed walking in the opposite direction.

“Kinsley!”

Her head goes up as she stops, but she doesn’t turn to acknowledge me.

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