His mother only wished she had the status Lizzy’s parents did.
“The man wore a half-million-dollar watch. That kind of money means he would be known.”
He reached for my cheek, but I moved out of reach.
“Don’t be stupid, Bailey. He’s a pretender, who is using you.”
“For what?” I snapped. “I have nothing.”
I wasn’t going to mention that I wore thousands of dollars’ worth of shoes and clothes Kalen had given me.
“Yes. And isn’t it interesting he shows up while you’re assigned to an audit to find out if the illustrious King Enterprises private equity firm is being accused of the biggest scandal since Bernie Madoff.”
I took an involuntary step back as if I’d been slapped.
“You’re putting it together. Not so smug, are you? You should consider my offer. It expires when the day is over,” he said.
He turned and headed for the elevator. I didn’t like where my head was going. A glance at the wall of windows and I caught my co-workers dipping their heads as if they hadn’t been watching our show.
A moment too late, I ran after Scott, still wearing my coat and carrying my package. The elevator doors had just closed when I rounded the corner.
I tapped the button several times until one opened for me. I chose the top floor and prayed that was where the CEO’s offices were.
When I reached the top, I caught sight of Scott heading for a conference room a little to the left and behind the receptionist’s desk. I followed after him.
“Miss,” a woman called out.
I ignored her. “Wait,” I said, catching Scott’s attention.
He turned, and that’s when I spotted the tall, dark-haired form I would know anywhere.
“What? You shouldn’t be here,” Scott said.
Despite everything he’d told me, I couldn’t give up on Kalen. There had to be an explanation.
“Maybe I was wrong?” I said, defending the man despite my growing suspicions. “We should take some more time examining the information.”
Scott chuffed. “It’s all here, Bailey.”
“Scott.”
We looked over to find the partner waving us in. The problem was everyone in the room turned our way.
I might have run, unable to watch as my findings were used to destroy the man I was falling desperately for. But when Kalen’s face didn’t register shock, everything inside me broke.
Scott looked back at me as if putting it all together. Of course, my little plea at the end didn’t look good. I’d made myself look guilty as hell.
My ex chuckled darkly as he strode into the conference room like he owned it.
When our boss just stood in the doorway waiting, I walked in just as Scott dropped the bomb.
“You threaten me while you’ve been screwing her so she would accept these fraudulent wires you approved as legitimate.”
Scott had spoken to Kalen, but there were others in the room. A very attractive older man who vaguely resembled Kalen and another man. He was younger than Kalen and also bore some resemblance.
“Bro, I was joking when I said screw one of the auditors.”
“Quiet, Connor,” the older man said.
I kept my eyes down, certain all eyes were on me.
“Did you know he was a King?”
As much as I didn’t want to, I met my boss’ eyes and answered his question. “No. He told me his name was Kalen Brinner.”
“That’s true,” Scott said.
“His name is Jeremy King,” the eldest King said.
I closed my eyes, afraid he would say that after he’d called the other guy Connor. I opened them when Kalen corrected him by saying, “Jeremy Kalen Brinner King.”
If he thought that mattered, he was wrong. I felt betrayed, used, and mostly stupid. Once again, a man had thoroughly played me for the idiot I was.
“Clear the room,” Mr. King said.
As Scott passed me, I turned to follow him out.
“Not you, young lady.”
My boss interjected, “We will deal with our own.”
“I have questions for her,” the older man declared.
They both looked at me. “As long as it has nothing to do with the audit,” my boss said.
Mr. King waved him off, leaving me alone in the hot seat.
After the door closed, Mr. King turned on his oldest son.
“When did you know she was a part of the auditing team?”
I shifted to look at the man who’d torched my faith in men to ash. He put a finger in his collar as if to loosen it. Then his eyes found mine and he spoke as if only to me.
“I spotted our corporate lawyer at her firm’s holiday party. He wouldn’t tell me why he was there, but she mentioned the party included clients.”
The older man cleared his throat and caught my attention. “And he never once told you who he was? You never guessed?”
“She didn’t know,” Kalen said, his jaw tight.
“I didn’t,” I said, defending myself.
Mr. King stared at me, and I stood there back straight.
“She’s pretty, Jeremy, but you know better—”