Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

I cleared my throat and stood at the head of the table. “Now that we're all here, I'd like to thank you all for coming.”

“We didn't really have much of a choice,” Gabe murmured under his breath and I gave him a dirty look. He plastered innocence on his face.

“Anyway, I called this meeting because some information has come to light.” My voice caught. I knew that this was what needed to be said, but the words didn't want to come out. I hated this so much. Even though it was a show to get Toby to confess, I struggled with the words. “I... Leo, he...”

“Charlotte... please...” The way Leo said my name broke my heart. I knew this was all a show to get Toby to confess, but it sounded real. I nearly broke.

“I have to, Leo,” I whispered. “I'm mad at y

ou.”

“I have something to say,” Leo announced. He stood up and I closed my eyes. I knew what words were coming. “I quit.”

Bastian and Gabe both sat up straight in their seats, their leisurely, carefree attitude completely gone. Toby looked ready to throw up. Without Leo, he didn't have a job.

“You can't quit!” Bastian crossed his arms, the scar above his eye going white.

“Well, I can quit or you can fire me,” Leo replied, his voice somehow even and calm. “ I'd rather quit.”

Bastian's eyes narrowed. “What the hell is wrong with you, Leo?” His voice was dangerously low.

Leo took a breath and opened his mouth.

“Leo, think about what you're doing,” Toby interjected, standing up and going over to him. Toby put a hand on his shoulder. “Don't do this.”

“I have to, Toby.” Leo pushed Toby's hand from his shoulder. “This should have been said a long time ago. It's time to finally come clean.”

Toby stared at him, the whites of his eyes going big. If Leo revealed the secret, his blackmail would be worthless.

“Leo, can I talk to you for a second?” Toby asked, pulling Leo to face him. “Before you do this, let me just talk to you. I don't think you've thought this through.”

“You know what? He's right, Leo,” Gabe said, standing up. “Bastian and I are going to go grab a doughnut. You let your assistant talk some sense into you.”

I looked over at Gabe as he and Bastian got up. This wasn't the way things were supposed to go, but it could still work. Gabe's assistant was looking at us like we were all nuts, but she was already halfway out the door.

“You should go with them, Charlotte,” Toby said, motioning to the door.

“No, you should stay.” Leo was firm. “She already suspects something, Toby. Why do you think she called this meeting?”

Toby glanced back and forth between the two of us, deciding if it was worth pushing Leo. “You can do whatever you want, Charlotte. I'd go if I were you.”

“I want to see this through.” I crossed my arms. “He should come clean. At least to me.”

Toby frowned at me, turning back to face Leo.

“You shouldn't do this, Leo. Charlotte doesn't know anything. She's just being a woman and trying to get back at you for your fight.”

I made a scoffing noise and had to cross my arms to keep from hitting the chauvinistic bastard. Just being a woman? I didn't know it was possible to despise someone this much.

“Don't insult her,” Leo growled. I wished I could smile. Even with everything on the line, Leo was going to defend me.

Toby changed his tactic. “Imagine what Bastian and Gabe are going to think. They're your friends, but they'll hate you after this.” Toby took a deep breath. “I mean, look how Charlotte's reacting. No offense, but she's got you up in front of the board. She's been lovesick about you for years and she's throwing you to the wolves. What are Bastian and Gabe going to do?”

I shook my head in disbelief. Toby still assumed that Leo didn't know the blackmailer was him. If he kept Leo from quitting, he could still keep his cushy job. If he could convince Leo to keep his mouth shut, he could keep his money-making blackmail machine going as well. He was going to gamble on Leo's guilt and try to keep it all.

“Toby, Leo made a huge mistake. He betrayed all of our trust.” I crossed my arms and glared at Leo, doing my best to look angry. “I don't think I can ever forgive that. He needs to come clean.”

“Charlotte, it was a long time ago,” Toby said sharply. “I really think you should leave and let me talk some sense into Leo.”