Bernet's office was just as Bree remembered it, the same way it had been the day he'd called her into it to offer her the stone account, but today something was off as she stepped into it, but she couldn't place her fingers on what.
It was there, tense in the air, heavy on her, a promise that this wasn't gonna be good.
He probably wanted to talk about the exclusive account he'd begrudgingly given her and so did she, there seemed to be something about it that wasn't quite right that she was still trying to pin point.
While she'd been working on it, she'd realised there were some patterned and regular, yet unexplainable influx of cash into the company that was making balancing it difficult.
There were no records of the reception of any of the money, no details or description but the money was always dumped in from somewhere and was messing with her work and mind.
And also, there were no explanations to where the large sums being siphoned off &n
Nathan Stone was smoking like a furnace while he paced the length of the room that was Jeffery's and so was the smoking pipe held between his lips. It wasn't helping that he hated the smell of these home, yet he was stuck in one. Smelt like old age, loneliness and poverty and he was none of those. He was rich, has a grown ass daughter and a business that should keep them afloat for the rest of their lives and ten more if they get the chance. That is if it doesn't all get blown away with the breeze of this shit that some idiot had stirred that was stripping them all naked to the public. And that bastard called Brandon had gone right ahead to make good of his threat and now his face was next to the man's on the fucking news while he hid out here like a fucking imbecile wimp. He hated it, it disgusted him to be on the run in a town he's built so much reputation in and it's all thanks to a man he'd considered a friend for more than a decad
It took a while for Bree to come to terms with what just happened back in Bernet's office.God, she must look all puffy from all the crying she's done already, probably looking like she already got some Halloween make up put on.Her head hurt as she tried to wrap her head around the fact that she's been jobless for the past ten minutes and her only hope now is a man who didn't want to see her.Nemy wasn't in the office still so had no shoulder available to cry on, today really sucked and was going well on its way down the book as one of the worst days of her life.There were some that came really close and others that were worse but this one was doing great on its way.Great way to start her weekend, just peachy.Bernet had been clear in his instructions, clear out her desk into a box and take nothing with her.He'd probably have them mail her personal belongings to the house than just have her leave with them now.She's seen h
Finally she paid for the now cold cup of coffee, sad that she hadn't gotten around to drinking it or have a bite of that bundle of creaminess that was their cake.She'd been too lost in her own head to have placed an order for it and even if she had, she doubted she'd have been able to stomach more than just a bite.While it was so good everyone wanted a piece, the thought of it right now was nauseating.It was time she went home and dealt with her demons, she decided as she made it outside the Cafe, looking around for a cab.What's the worst that can happen after all these, right?Finally, she was able to wave one down and settle inside it.While the car sped up the road, headed for the house, her mind slowly drifted back to Ryder.The man was as enigmatic as he was mysterious, and his eyes hide a lot of secrets in them, secrets she knew nothing about.He only let her catch glimpses of his emotions in the few moments he
Bree barely made it into her room before she came crashing down on the bed and crying her soul out. Why would this be happening to her, why now of all times? They say God only gives you as much as you can handle right? Maybe he'd given her too much credit because she wasn't ready for this, she didn't think she could handle it all without snapping. He'd asked her to get out of his house, said it so casually like they hadn't been together just hours ago with him processing his love to her. He'd said it like she'd forced her way in here and he wanted her gone the next minute. He'd looked do different and she knew whatever it was that had happened, it was taking its toll on him too. He looked like it to her. She stayed curled in bed, her heart ripping to shreds as she thought about the things he'd said. It hurts so much, and it was worse because it hurt in the one place she couldn't hold, the one place she couldn't
Bree couldn't say which one hit her harder between finding a documented file full of her personal information on Ryder's desk and hearing that voicemail from his phone, in the same voice that she's known for years now.She would know Cole's voice any where, even in her sleep, because she'd spent years listening to it.His words in the recording had been loud and very clear."I need more money...." He'd started in his usual unperturbed voice that makes it always seem like he was in control of every situation."And you are going to give it to me this time because I know you don't want your little chess pawn to find out what you've been up to now, or do you? I had to burn a lot of funds getting your contact and now that I have it, you are going to pay for that too. Say hi to Brianna for me and hey....don't use the bitch too much, I might still need her later."It made her sick to her stomach, he made her sick, they both did and she wished she had neve
Ryder could use another bottle of whiskey, or three, but he'd sworn off drinks after the raging hangover he'd sported this morning and the extra glass he'd nursed till she'd got back. She looked distressed and her eyes had pleaded with him to go soft on her for a full minute, but he'd had his head buried far into his asshole and had ignored that. He hadn't even given a flying fuck what it was that had made her that way, he didn't ask what out that drowning sadness in her eyes. Instead, he'd made it worse by calling her name's and making accusations, because he'd been mad with his rage and all his pent up anger against the world came pouring out in torrents. He could hear her pulling her box down the stairs and through the living room, but he couldn't bring himself to go after her. What would he say to her? He had nothing to offer now, not after he'd been as cruel to her as the devil himself. And then there was that voicemail fr
The day Bree moved out of Ryder's house, that had been the last time she'd set her eyes on him. The last time they ever spoke to each other too. For a minute back then, she'd thought he'd come after her, try to offer an explanation about his actions, explain what that voicemail had been about, explain what his accusations had been about......... But she'd waited the whole day, the next, the week and even now, a month plus later there was still nothing. Nothing, except the two million dollars that had suddenly appeared in her account a week after she'd left him. It infuriated her that he thought that lowly of her, did he think that she'd stuck with him because of his money? Because that was disrespectful to both her and her feelings. The feelings she'd had for him, the love he'd grown in her, the fragile heart he'd crushed with his own hands........he disrespected all of that with that money, and when she'd gone stomping under t
Work was the same as it's been the past week, not overly busy but not too slow paced either.It was fair and it seemed to keep the nausea down longer than anything she's tried in recent times.Currently, there were only few patrons in the room, most of them elderly, enjoying the early now glow and the beautiful view right outside the glass wall.Most of them would always take a detour to the blossoming flower garden right outside to adore the blooming petal before they leave, but for the mean time, they were mostly seated and lost in conversations that didn't really involve flowers.Bree dragged herself behind the counter to take a break since there was really no one that needed serving, yet.Her phone buzzed in her pocket and for some reason, her heart leaped hoping it was finally something from.......him.But to her disappointment, it wasn't and instead it was some stupid stray message that came from all these broadcast ads that was curren