Page 59 of The CEO's Revenge

“Rachel agreed to come with us. I told her we would pick her up if that’s okay with you.”

“That’s fine by me. When would be a good time?” I’d have driven to the ends of the earth to pick Rachel up if it would help Savannah to see the truth.

“Anytime this morning would be fine.”

A couple of hours later, we pulled into the parking lot of an apartment complex. I waited while Lillian went upstairs to find Rachel’s apartment. A few minutes later she came back, accompanied by the woman I presumed was in the photo. Hard to tell as I’d only seen her profile and she had changed her hair color and style, and she had all her clothes on. She smiled gently and gave me her outstretched hand.

“You’re even more handsome awake.”

I didn’t feel very handsome. “Thanks for agreeing to help me clear up this confusion, Rachel.”

She shrugged. “I helped to cause it. It’s wonderful whenever I am given the opportunity to set my terrible past right.”

The conversation was casual as we made the ninety-minute drive back to the city, but I felt as if my guts were tied up in knots. I didn’t call ahead to tell Savannah I was coming, as I didn’t want to spook her, but I knew she was always in on Saturday mornings. I saw her car was in its usual parking spot, as I turned off the ignition.

“It’s showtime, ladies.”

They nodded and we entered the building. We walked up the short flight of stairs and knocked on Savannah’s door. I heard the latch being drawn back. Then the door swung open and there she was, the love of my life. That soccer ball to the gut feeling was back. I felt as though I was drowning in her beautiful eyes. Fucking hell! Swallowing hard, I stepped to the side.

“These ladies have something they’d like to tell you, Savannah.”

23

SAVANNAH

Though years had passed, I recognized ‘the woman’ instantly. There was no mistaking her. Her image had been burned into my brain that fateful evening. My heart began to race and I felt fury rise in me. How dare he bringherto my apartment?

“I’ve been telling you the truth all along, and these ladies are here to prove it. I think you’re going to want to take a seat,” Max said.

Blankly, I stared at the three pairs of eyes looking at me. The truth? Was there truly another truth than those terrible photos?

“Please, Savannah,” Max urged softly.

I tuned in on his face. His jaw was tight with tension. He didn’t look like a liar. Then again, he never did look like one. Yes, I wanted to hearhis truth.He deserved that much. Wordlessly, I stepped aside and they entered.

I walked to the nearest armchair and sank into it. The women sat on the couch, while Max stood behind them. He looked like he wanted to pace, but was deliberately holding himself still. The older woman spoke first.

“We’ve never met in person, Savannah. I’m Lillian.”

Immediately, I recognized her voice. “Lillian? Max’s old secretary?”

“Yes, that’s right. We’ve spoken a few times when Max got bogged down with work and was going to be late. I may have sent you a big bouquet of flowers or two as well.” She smiled sadly. “It’s nice to meet you even under these circumstances.”

I felt no kindness towards her. She never once called me to ask how I was. I crossed my arms and said nothing.

“Let me get straight to the point,” she continued. “Robert set Max up, Savannah.”

My eyebrows rose skeptically. Not beating that old drum again.

“I have the documents from the accountant to prove it. Robert forged Max’s signature on check authorizations over a period of months. My task was to find a woman and set it up to make it look as though Max had cheated on you and was being blackmailed, hence his need to steal money.”

I gasped, my gaze flying over to Max. He was standing as still as a statue and his eyes were without guilt.

“I’m sorry, Savannah. I’m so ashamed of what I did and have regretted my part in Robert’s scheme ever since. In my defense it was a very bad time in my life. My aunt was dying and I couldn’t afford the surgery she needed. I was so desperate to help her I wasn’t thinking straight anymore. Robert told me he would pay for her operation if I would help him. All he wanted to do was get rid of Max from the firm. He promised me you would never see the photos. He would just use them to ask Max to leave the company. The way I saw it, my aunt would have died without her surgery and it wouldn’t really matter to Max if he got kicked off the company. I already knew Max’s big dream was to start up his own company… and from a couple of documents I’d seen on his desk it was clear he was already in the process of moving away. I swear, I truly never dreamed Robert’s intention was to send Max to prison. Not only were they childhood friends, but not once had I seen any kind of animosity between them. My circumstances made it easy for me to fool myself into believing that Robert was a greedy, ungrateful bastard and Max would actually be better off without him. Once Max was taken away, I was immediately fired and told in no uncertain terms that if I was ever to breathe a word about Robert’s plot, I would be the next one going to prison for my part in it.”

My jaw dropped, and I stared at Lillian in shock.

“That’s my part in this sad, sordid story. I’ll let Rachel take it from here.”

---