Page 124 of For One Night

“You’ll hold them down until I can kick their ass.” I growl.

“Damn straight.” He seethes.

I stand, walking side by side, with my brother into the conference room, where my fate is about to be decided on a falsified document. The board will not give a damn it was faked, until we can run the entire thing back, prove it was faked and remove my name, it’s done.

As with all board meetings, they’ve already been given the material and had the opportunity to go over it. In other words, they’ve already made a decision about my future here at my company.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” I say as we enter the room. Lachlan stays by my side as I stand at the front of the room. There’s no reason to sit, it won’t take long. “As you can see, we found several discrepancies in the warehouse stock and their files. At first look, it was pin pointed as to where and who miss directed the stock and funds.”

“You say that as if it wasn’t you, Lennox but this report tells a different story.” Fitzer narrows his eyes at me.

Lachlan steps in. “For the record, as many of you know, I have been my brothers most critical opponent, I know for a fact, there has been a breach and we’re working diligently on finding the error and correcting it. Lennox was in fact, one of two, that found it.”

“Don’t you think that sounds a bit, contrived?” Rossi asks.

“I know exactly how this looks and sounds, it isn’t true, I would never deliberately hurt this company, let alone, sabotage all of the work I’ve put in.”

“That may be so, and I have to admit, it does mean something that Lachlan is willing to stand by you, but…” Rossi averts his eyes.

I swallow hard, pride is easy to come out but damn hard to go down. “I understand. I’m giving you my notice that I will be stepping down immediately. I do, however, retain the right to revisit when I have proof of my innocence.” I pause, becoming emotional.

“I know most of you, well all of you, didn’t back me being the head of this company again, and rightly so. I know who I am, and the things I did in the past to try to destroy my brother, whom has never done anything more than love and support me. But if you think so little of me, that I would do this to my family, you don’t know me at all. This building, these papers, this company bares my name. MY NAME. So, excuse me if I take this personally and make it my life’s mission to take the person down.” I wheel around, Lachlan’s hand on my shoulder before I pull away and walk out. Effectively giving them the finger before they could get rid of me.

I try my best not to run from the building but damn this walk of shame, this suck and I deserve it for every time I made a woman do this, holding her head high. I take the long way home, needing the fresh air and time to think. If Lola can find it, she will figure out how it happened.

I pull into the house, parking beside Proud Mary. “She really needs a lift. I’ll take you home later.” I pat her hood as I pass it.

I walk in, take off my shoes, lay empty my pockets, and continue straight out the back door, I need a long walk and even longer look at my future. As with anything anymore, my thoughts are on Lola. I’m not sure how she’s going to fair through all of this.

The sun begins to set, I shove my hand in my pocket to check my phone and realize, I left it with my keys, on the counter. I jog back to the house, knowing Lola and Lachlan have probably been looking for me.

I hit the home screen and see multiple calls and messages from them both. I waste no time going to Lola and call Lachlan on the way. I start Proud Mary and pull out before dialing Lachlan hands free.

“Hey, how are you?” Lachlan jumps right in, I know he’s been worried.

“Sorry, I went for a long walk, cleared my head, and I’m taking Lola’s car back to her now.”

He takes a deep breath. “I can’t believe you quit.”

“I wasn’t giving them the chance to fire me.”

“Mom and dad are worried, you might want to call them.” He says with a sigh.

“I-I’m actually thinking of a visit, maybe take Lola to meet them.” My heart hammers at the mere thought of her.

“I think that’s a great idea, they would love it.”

“I’m also thinking of proposing while we’re there.” I hold my breath, waiting on his judgement of how it’s ‘too soon’.

He chuckles, surprising me. “Have you picked a ring?”

“No, but there’s time.”

“You love her?” Funny, mention love and anything, I cringe. Mention love and Lola in the same sentence and I want to smile.

“I want to tell her first.”

“Understood.” I pull into her complex and notice an unfamiliar car in one of her spots.

“Hey, hang on here a minute with me.” I step out, taking the stairs as quietly as possible.

“What’s going on?”

“Just a second…” I put the phone down and ease over to her door.

It’s ajar with a man standing close to her. His arms are wrapped around her, when they turn, I realize it’s Carter and Lola. I step back, gasping. When I do, Carter sees me. As anger pulses through me, he makes the last cut the deepest.

“I’m so happy to have you back, and I’m proud of what you did today, taking him down a notch is just what he needed.” He stares at me, smirking before delivering the final blow. He leans in, but before I watch them kiss, I drop her and haul ass out of there.

“Lan, I’m heading west on Seventeen, come get me and get me the hell away from here.” I slam my phone on the concrete, breaking it into pieces. The same way she has broken my heart.