Page 94 of Without Apology

“You’re on time.”

Although she might not have vocalized her doubts about my making tonight a priority, I could tell she was relieved. That made two of us.

“I am.”

“Not saying I was worried, but with the sale finalizing today…”

I put my finger to her lips. “No more work talk. The purchase is with the attorneys, and starting now, I’m officially on holiday.”

“Ooh, I’m digging this new side of you.”

She took the bottle of wine and bouquet of flowers from my hands and led me inside, where three exuberant girls and Cooper all greeted me. This might be out of my element, but it wasn’t long before I felt right at home.

Turned out Kevin, Peyton’s brother-in-law, was a nice guy. Easy to talk to and clearly enamored with his family despite the fact he was completely outnumbered by the women in his house. It also became clear that Peyton’s nieces adored her. As for her sister, despite a few uncomfortable questions, she provided a fountain of information about the woman I loved.

We were about to sit down to dinner when my phone started buzzing. Thankfully, the noise from the three girls was enough to cover, allowing me to excuse myself to the loo once I realized the buzzing wouldn’t stop.

I steeled myself when I saw Phillip’s missed call. Then came the last two from Emma. I dialed her first, dread building in my stomach.

Emma answered on the first ring. “Oh, thank God you answered. I’m sorry to interrupt, but we have a crisis, and I wanted to let you know before you spoke with Philip.”

“What is it?”

“Lyle was doing some comparisons of the spreadsheets he received yesterday to the ones originally provided to Russ. He thinks someone recently changed the numbers as if they’re covering something up. That someone is or was potentially stealing. Tom is on a witch hunt and is unfortunately pointing the finger at someone on Peyton’s staff.”

“Fuck. They don’t think it’s her, though, right?”

She sighed, causing me to curse again. There was absolutely no way Peyton would steal anything.

“They’re not ruling it out. But Tom is here now with Lyle at the office, putting a case together. He’s already called Phillip and gotten him riled up about the possibility of the new CFO embezzling.”

“What about Jeff?” Considering he was the one who’d provided the spreadsheets, my bet would be on him.

“He’s suspected, too, but nobody understands the financial system better than Peyton. And Tom says she has a sizable sum of money in the bank.”

“What does that have to do with anything? I have money in the bank, too. Does that mean I stole it? Where is he coming by his information?” If she did have money, it most likely came from her parents’ estate. Knowing Peyton, she was also probably good at saving.

“Some bullshit about having a friend with the FBI who looked into it.”

“Bollocks.” If Tom was on a witch hunt—especially if he was tossing Peyton’s name around—then I needed to get there fast. But what the hell would I say to her about having to leave? I couldn’t tell her the truth, could I? Emma answered my unspoken question for me.

“Ethically, you can’t tell her. I know you want to. Believe me, so do I. But this is bigger than you or her. She’s now an officer of the company we’re auditing and buying, which puts her on the other side. We’re talking about someone possibly going to prison for stealing. With any hope, it’s all a mistake, in which case we don’t want to accuse them.”

“I know.” Even if I wanted to tell Peyton the truth, there was no way I could. I knew this with one hundred percent certainty. Although I absolutely loathed it, I’d have to lie to her. Then I’d have to leave.

“I can maybe cover for another half hour or so.”

It would take at least that amount of time to drive the distance to the office. I pinched the bridge of my nose. On the one hand, I wanted to protect her. On the other hand, I’d be leaving her family’s dinner and ruining the chance she’d believe I could ever prioritize her above my work. My options sucked because there was no option. “This is a bloody disaster.”

“I’m sorry.”

I looked skyward and thought of the irony that Emma could say the very words I wouldn’t be able to say to Peyton, though I certainly should. “Couldn’t be helped. I’ll be there shortly and ring Phillip on the way.”

“Okay.”

I stepped out of the restroom with dread tying up my stomach in knots.

Peyton was standing in the hall as if waiting on me. “Hey.”