Page 35 of All The Wrong Notes

“In other words, he could steal money, have it all sent to a numbered bank account off-shore, and make it look like it was you. He didn’t need to be in the office, but he had copied the key, and snuck in while you were at choir rehearsals so the dirty work happened on your computer.”

Elise’s face was white, whether from shock or anger, Will didn’t know.

“And the land that we were given?” Her voice was flat and cold.

“Same thing. He got access to the documents through the land registry office under your name, and he sold it, pretending to be the rightful owner. All the money went into another numbered bank account, which is how he was living in the Caribbean.”

The pain and confusion in those beautiful brown eyes had turned to the fire of fury. “That fucking bastard! If I ever see him again…” She almost growled and a frisson went up Will’s spine. It was ridiculously sexy. Later, he would act on it. Now, he had more of the story to tell.

“To make a long story short, I got the land back. Or, I will. I reported everything to the authorities, and they’re taking action against him. The sale is being reversed. Numbered accounts aren’t entirely impossible to track, especially when you know who’s at the other end. He thinks he’s in the clear, but now that the banks know he was behind your identity theft, they’ll be coming for him. He won’t enjoy the Caymans for long.”

Elise threw her arms around him. “You are wonderful! You went to all that trouble, and you saved the centre. But… wait. Did you get the money back as well? How did that work? If he had bought a house, it must have been with the arts centre’s money.”

She was too clever. He’d hoped, by telling her one part of the story, she wouldn’t think of the other part.

“Will, you didn’t.”

Damn it. She’d worked it out.

“You didn’t get the money back. You just replaced it with your own.”

“Eventually the money from the house will be recovered.”

“And you somehow convinced Ms Singh to tell me it was a computer glitch.”

“Elise…”

She assessed him through narrowed eyes. Was she angry? Disappointed? Every insecurity he had ever felt came rushing back.

“I know how much the centre means to you. I would have done anything to save it, because it’s your life. I didn’t want your gratitude. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I only wanted you to be happy.” Silence. “I didn’t want you to feel obligated to me. I never wanted our relationship to be about money. I just want you.”

Uh oh. Had he said that out loud? She was absolutely silent, and it was too late to take it back. There was no way out, but forward.

Will let all the words rush out, before he stopped long enough to think and to hold them back. “I know we haven’t been together for that long, but I can’t imagine my life without you. I’ll give you as much time as you need, but I know how I feel. I need you with me forever, however you want.”

He snapped his mouth closed. She still hadn’t slapped him. That was good.

“Do you think you could ever feel the same?”

Those beautiful eyes that had been first shocked, then outraged, now shone with something else. Could it be…?

“Oh, Will!” Elise threw herself against him, and he couldn’t see her eyes anymore because she was kissing him with all the passion he had been trying to control for far too long.

There was nothing for it. The lady had a mission, and who was he to deny her. He let his own eyes flutter closed as he felt the touch of her mouth on his. Her hands up and down his back consumed his senses, and nothing else in the world mattered.

CHAPTER 15

IT HAD TO BE YOU

“He did what?” Janet’s green eyes were wide as she gaped at Elise over the lip of her wine glass.

They were in their usual seats in the pub after a choir rehearsal for Mozart’s sublime ‘Coronation Mass’. Elise had been heartbroken at having to miss the performance, and after missing three important rehearsals, had resigned herself to sitting in the audience. But just that morning, Randall had called her to ask if she knew the music. If she could manage on the last two rehearsals, he would welcome her back into the choir for the concert. Having sung the mass while at university, Elise leapt at the chance, and had spent the day poring over the notes. The rest of the concert consisted of a piece for the orchestra alone, and a series of opera arias for the soloists, and choruses, which she knew. The rehearsal went well, and she was thrilled to be able to sing after all.

The usual group had gathered at the pub afterwards, but everyone except for Janet and Carlos had gone home. And Janet wanted the scoop!

“I’d like to hear it as well,” Carlos added. “Will is being his old reticent self over this. All he’s told the board is that ‘matters are resolved satisfactorily’, and that he might have nudged things along a bit. It’s almost infuriating. We know nothing would be resolved if he hadn’t stepped in. But what did he do?”

Elise couldn’t divulge Will’s secret. He was her knight in shining armour, but the huge extent of his generosity wasn’t for wider knowledge, even if that only meant his close friends. The amount that he had given, from his own pockets, to replenish the arts centre’s accounts was considerable, even for someone with his means, and she knew he’d had to dig deep into various accounts and cash in a few investments.