Page 37 of Imogen

“If you think it will help, yes.”

“Get the police to recover the disc. Larry will have no choice but to press charges. The board members will insist on it. If you want to avoid a criminal record, they need to recover it from the home of the person who stole it.”

I hesitate because I would have gone into his home to get it. Then I wouldn’t have been able to prove that I didn’t take it. “Thank you for helping me avoid another mistake.”

“Take care, Imogen.”

As I get to the door, I stop. “Laura, if you boot up my computer, there is a file named Sanctuary. I was working on some things that I hope Castle and Games will still move forward with. Despite everything, I want the very best for this company and everyone here. Please make sure they are used. If you have questions, you can call me and I’ll talk you through it.”

“You would do that?”

“Yes,” I answer truthfully.

She nods, and I use that as my cue to leave. The watchful gazes of my colleagues begin, and I feel like I’m doing the walk of shame. When I reach the reception area, George glances up.

“Do not speak to that traitor unless you want to be fired too,” Daniel warns.

I give George a soft smile as he mouths ‘call me’. I step into the lift and turn, keeping my head up as the doors close.

Only one person can help me now. There is no way I can wait around for the police to come and arrest me.

*** *** ***

Pulling into the visitor space outside my dad’s offices, I take a breath. I pull down the sun visor to check my appearance and groan. Not only is the tip of my nose bright red, but under my eyes are still puffy.

Getting fired sucks. Getting fired for trusting the wrong person sucks more.

It won’t take the police long to come and arrest me. I need to get ahead of this before it damages my image completely.

Stepping out, I lock the car up and keep my head down as I make my way to the front entrance. I step inside, bypassing the desk used as reception. Four desks line each side of the room, and right at the end are two offices. One belongs to my dad and the other Harris. My dad happens to be placing a folder on the first desk. At my arrival, he glances up.

“Immy?”

“Dad,” I choke out, breaking into tears.

I rush up to him, and he immediately wraps his arms around me. “What’s happened? Why aren’t you at work?”

I pull back, trying to get it together enough to explain. I cling to his black T-shirt. “Dad, I’m in trouble. Big trouble.”

“Immy, what’s going on?” Ben asks, startling me.

I pull back further, seeing him gripping the doorframe to Dad’s office. Embarrassment swamps me as I realise everyone is staring.

Dad places his hand on my lower back. “Why don’t you come to the office?”

“Maybe I should come back later,” I whisper.

“Come on,” he orders, and we walk up the makeshift aisle to his office. Ben moves back and immediately takes a seat on the sofa.

“Why are you up and about?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I had to collect my paperwork.”

“And no one else could have dropped them off or collected them for you?”

He arches a brow. “Are you going to avoid telling us what has you so upset?”

Dad steers me to the sofa, and I drop down next to Ben, aware of how close we are. Dad pulls the desk chair around to the front of us, and I feel like a kid again. This is how me and Joshua sat when we were in trouble.

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