Heather's POV"Heather, how is the efficiency review coming along?" Casey asks as he walks into her office."Do we have to speak in code now or can I talk about what I am actually doing?" Heather responds with a sharp tone.Heather has been avoiding Casey ever since her encounter with Meredith. She is just realizing now how easy it has been to avoid him. Like he wasn't seeking her out at all. She was right to think that Meredith was telling the truth about her and Casey. It is probably for the best anyway. Heather knows she needs to stay focused on her investigation. Casey is too much of a distraction."No code needed. I've just gotten used to referring to the investigation that way. Is everything alright? You seem upset," the concern is clear in Casey's voice.Heather hates hearing Casey care. It would be so much easier to get over him if she didn't know what a good man he is. She needs to push him away to protect herself."Well, then the review is going well. I have flagged dozens o
Casey's POV"Heather, are you free for lunch?" Casey asks, hoping for a different answer than he got last time."Why? Is there a meeting you need me for?" Heather asks without looking up from her computer.Heather has been distant for over a week with Casey and he cannot take it anymore. He needs to know what he did to cause her to pull away. He has been wracking his brain trying to figure out what he could have done. But he cannot figure it out. Hopefully, Heather will agree to go to lunch with him so they can talk. Casey hates feeling so disconnected from Heather and will do anything to fix it."No meeting. I just thought it would be nice to have lunch together. I know you have been working so hard lately and it seems like I have barely spoken to you this past week. I wanted the chance to catch up," Casey says as casually as he can manage."I don't think that is a good idea, Casey. I am just so busy. Maybe some other time," Heather responds, still not looking at him.Casey wants to
Heather's POV"You have a great apartment Heather," Casey says as she closes the front door.Heather is freaking out. She has decided to tell Casey the truth about her investigation into his father and what happened to her mother. Seeing Casey so desperate to talk to her and to get her to open up to him made her realize how much he cares about her. She may not know everything about Casey, but Heather believes she can trust him. "Thanks, Casey. I appreciate you coming over tonight. I know I didn't give you much of an indication as to why I wanted you here," Heather says as she leads Casey into the living room.It is strange to have Casey in her home. She has been trying to keep her work life separate from her personal life. Her entire focus has been on finding a way to destroy Liam Sullivan. She wasn't trying to make friends at work because she did not want to lie to people. Casey changed everything. He gave her the access she needed and someone to care about. "Of course, I'm here He
Casey's POV"What are you talking about? You sound crazy!" Casey is in shock. He did not know what to expect from tonight with Heather, but he never thought she would accuse his father of murder. "My father is not a murderer! He is a good man." Casey is shouting in desperation. He needs to be speaking the truth because he cannot comprehend a world where that wasn't the truth. His father is not a murderer. He can't be."Your father is not a good man! You know that, Casey. I have heard you complain about your father's actions and attitude enough times." Heather's voice breaks as she speaks, her emotions boiling over."There is a big difference between saying something offensive and killing a person. And you think there is some grand conspiracy involving my father and the company. There is not!"Casey starts pacing in frustration. He does not know how to process what Heather has told him. He has never questioned the validity of something she has said to him before. However, this is jus
Heather's POVHeather breaks down sobbing minutes after Casey slammed the door behind him. She doesn't know how long she is crying on the couch before Lucy comes home and finds her."Heather, what happened? Are you ok? Talk to me, sweetie…" Lucy is frantic with worry as she wraps her arms around Heather.Heather turns to her best friend and falls into her arms. She allows herself to soak up the comfort Lucy is offering. Something she desperately needs. "I told him everything and he hates me," Heather says between sobs."Oh, sweetie. I'm sure that's not true. It is a lot to process. If you talk to him in a couple of days I bet he will be more open to listening," Lucy offers reassuringly. Heather desperately wants to believe her friend. She is sick over the thought of losing Casey. It is also scaring her that Casey could tell his father everything about her investigation. All her progress could be wiped away. Heather knows she could lose everything because she trusted the wrong person
Casey's POV"Casey, dear can you help me with these items for the auction? There is a chart on the table for where everything goes. Thank you!" His mother cheerfully orders him around.It is the day of the annual charity gala that his mother hosts. It is a major social event and something she spends months planning. Every detail must be perfect for Christine Sullivan."Of course Mom. Whatever you need." Casey responds even though she is already walking away from him.Casey has thrown himself into helping his mother with her event because it keeps him busy. If he slows down for even a moment, then thoughts of Heather will overtake him. He is still reeling from everything she told him last night. He cannot believe it. Heather believes his father is a murderer and is determined to prove it. It seems like everything they shared is a lie. Luckily, Casey has his mother's charity gala to keep him distracted for the day. He has already spent hours setting up for the event under his mother's
Heather's POV"Well, Miss. Winters, how nice of you to join us this evening?"Heather freezes as she hears the voice behind her. As she turns to greet him she is desperately hoping she is wrong about who is speaking to her. "Mr. Sullivan, it is so nice to see you again. I'm surprised you even remember me," Heather responds, trying to hide how nervous she is.Heather cannot believe she is standing in front of Liam Sullivan. She is staring into the eyes of the man who killed her mother and this time she doesn't have Casey beside her. It is sickening to be face-to-face with this man. All Heather wants to do is scream that she knows who he really is and she is going to make him pay for his crimes. She can't. She has to smile and be polite and pretend it is not destroying her. "I make it a point to know my most important employees. You have certainly made an impression recently. My son has been quite impressed with your work. As well as your other…skills. When I heard you were coming ton
Casey's POV"Casey I need to talk to you," Heather urgently whispers.Casey is shocked to have Heather standing behind him and demanding to speak to him. He had been keeping an eye on her all evening so that he could avoid speaking to her. She looks stunning, and a part of Casey wants nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and claim her as his own. Unfortunately, he does not know how to trust her now that he knows that she is after his father."We can talk on Monday, Heather. Tonight I am here for my family," Casey says coldly, hoping she gets the message."Casey, please. It's important. Just give me five minutes and then you can go back to ignoring me," Heather pleads to Casey.The tone in her voice prompts Casey to look at Heather more closely. She is practically vibrating with intensity and urgency. Her eyes are wide and filled with both excitement and fear. Casey's curiosity gets the better of him."Fine. What is it?" Casey gives in and asks, needing to know why she is so d
Heather's POV"Heather! Your dreamboat boyfriend is here to see you!" Lucy exclaims from the living room,Heather drags herself out of bed to go see Casey, even though there is a large part of her that doesn't want to move. She is the new forensic accountant at JR Global and therefore is given most of the tedious grunt work. The rumors about her and Casey have carried over to the new company, and the boy's club is enjoying her misery. Heather is trying not to let it bother her though. Before her mother was killed, JR Global was her dream. They have the most impressive forensic accountants in the world and are highly sought after. Now that she has justice for her mother she can pursue her dreams. The one downside of working her dream job is that she sees far less of Casey.Heather enters the living room and sees her boyfriend sitting on the couch sharing coffee with Lucy. Those two bonded over their love of high-end coffee and Casey has been happily bribing Lucy with specialty coffee
Casey's POV"I'm so glad you're alive," Casey murmurs into Heather's ear as he holds her.Casey has no intention of letting go of Heather anytime soon. For several minutes he thought she was dead and his world ended. When he first saw her body on the pavement, he thought he was hallucinating. His feet were moving toward her before he made a conscious decision. By the time he reached her Casey realized she was badly beaten and unconscious. He must have screamed her name because Tommy and Aidan were right behind him with paramedics who quickly took over.Now, Heather is in the back of an ambulance and just waking up. They are on their way to the hospital so Heather can get the care she so desperately needs. Casey doesn't know what happened to her in that warehouse, but he can see the welts on her face and bruising on her neck. Her torso and limbs are discolored from bruises. Someone gave her a severe beating and Casey thinks it was probably his father. It hurts him to know that his own
Heather's POV20 minutes earlier"Heather, I knew you were trouble, but I have to admit you surprised me by showing up here."Heather is relieved by that statement from Liam. It means that she has not been moved to another location and is still at the warehouse address she sent to Casey and Tommy. She tries to focus on that relief rather than the fear that is threatening to consume her as she is at the mercy of the man who killed her mother."I guess I should be proud to have caught you off guard Liam. You don't mind if I call you Liam, do you? I have a feeling our relationship is about to enter a whole new level, as you torture me for information. Besides, you're my future father-in-law which basically makes us family," Heather says with confidence, trying to throw Liam off. Liam walks right up to her and grabs her by the neck. As he chokes her he pulls her up so her toes barely touch the ground. Heather starts to panic as she is unable to breathe. Liam's face is all she can see and
Casey's POV"Are you sure this is the address Heather sent you? It's just a warehouse," Aidan asks, confused."Yes, I'm sure. This is the address. We figured out that dad owns several different warehouses in the city. He bought them all with different shell companies to keep anyone from tying him to the properties. We just didn't know which one was being used for the upcoming weapons sale. Heather said she was going to try to determine which one they were using. This is the address she gave me and I trust her," Casey says, trying to remain patient as he gives his brother a brief explanation.Part of Casey is furious with Heather. His father has made it clear that he is threatened by Heather, but she keeps moving forward with the investigation. Since Liam threatened to frame her for the embezzlement she has been all the more determined to take him down. Casey understands, and he feels just as outraged. He wishes she would have waited for him to go with her."Casey, I don't see any indi
Heather's POVFreezing cold water hits Heather's face and thrusts her into consciousness."I knew you were trouble, but I had no idea you were this much trouble," a female voice speaks from behind Heather.Heather ignores the voice and takes a moment to try to figure out where she is and what is happening to her. She feels her entire body shivering. She looks down and notices that her feet are bare and she has been stripped of everything but her bra and panties. "Ignoring me won't work! You have no idea what you have stumbled onto you ignorant whore. I know you must be desperate to stay close to Casey, but going after his father is not the way to do it," Meredith Dillon sneers as she walks up to Heather and pulls at her hair for her to look up. The pain in Heather's head is making itself known. Whatever was used to knock her out certainly left its mark. She can feel blood dried in her hair and congealed at the base of her neck. However, she cannot worry about that injury right now.
Casey's POV"Casey we have to talk about dad. I don't know what is going on, but he has completely lost his mind!" Aidan says as he bursts into Casey's office. Casey had been trying to focus on his work in an attempt to keep himself calm. It seems that idea is futile as he has spent most of the morning worrying about Heather. Now, his brother is coming with more problems."What is happening now? And just tell me the facts, Aidan. I don't have the energy to deal with your dramatic embellishment," Casey says wearily. "Dad is telling the entire public relations department to prepare for a major press conference in three days. When I asked him what it was about, he told me he is going to announce that he uncovered a major plot against him and that the individuals involved stole millions of dollars from the company. He assured me that the accounts will not be missing a single cent by the time we hold the press conference. Also, he says there will be several high-profile arrests and I sho
Heather's POV"Casey, what are you doing here?" Heather asks as she opens the door.Heather is shocked to see Casey at her door. He looks absolutely shattered and is unable to talk. She guides him through the doorway and sits him on her couch. Casey seems completely detached and Heather knows something terrible must have happened. She looks out the door to check for threats or anyone watching, but she does not see anyone. After closing and locking the door, Heather returns to Casey. She can tell that whatever happened has messed with his mind. He is staring off into the distance and his breathing is becoming erratic. A panic attack is building. "Casey, talk to me. I'm worried," Heather says as she rubs her hands up and down his arms. When he is unable to respond, Heather turns to the methods that have helped with his panic attacks before."I'm here, Casey. You aren't alone. Remember the breathing exercises we have been working on together. You are safe with me in my apartment. When
Casey's POV"Casey, please come in and sit down. We have a lot to discuss," Liam says with an evil look on his face.Casey follows his father's order and sits down. He does not know what this meeting is about, but he is feeling uneasy about the glee in his father's eyes. Liam is acting as if he has won a major victory and Casey is concerned about what that victory is.It was late at night and he was getting ready to leave when he got the call that his father needed to see him. Immediately. Casey has had a bad feeling from the moment of his summoning. Recently, Liam has been making every effort to keep Casey out of the loop. Summoning now cannot mean anything good.Liam starts speaking as soon as Casey sits down in front of him."Casey, I'm glad you're here. We have a problem. Something that could destroy this company and our family.""What happened?" Casey says immediately concerned.Casey's mind is racing, trying to figure out what has the potential to cause such damage. He has been
Heather's POV"What the hell are you doing in my office?" Heather says her voice raised with anger.Liam Sullivan just smirks at her in response. She just endured lunch with Casey and his mother and sister. Now she finds Liam sitting at her desk."This is my company, Ms. Winters. I can go wherever I like, including your office. I should say especially your office. Since you are overstepping in your efficiency review," Liam's voice is cold as he speaks.Heather is instantly terrified. She knew Liam could figure out that she is investigating him, but she convinced herself that she was safe. Her mother was killed because she was a witness who saw too much. He could just as easily kill her. However, she has to remain calm. She doesn't know how much Liam knows and cannot afford to give anything away."How is it I am overstepping, sir? I believe everything I have done has fallen within the directive given to me by your son," Heather says, keeping her voice even.Liam stalks around her desk