Page 90 of Big & Bossy

“Now, obviously.”

I bit my lip, trying to figure out the right words to say. “There’s a reason your profits were down the last few months before I hired you,” I began. “And I think a part of you suspected it for a while. The financial reports you gave my team…”

Her gaze went straight through me as the puzzle pieces lined up in her mind. “He was stealing money, wasn’t he?”

“Technically, embezzling is the right term?—”

“Shit,” Mandy hissed. She pressed her palms into her eyes, her breathing spiking, her lower lip quivering. “How?”

“Overcharging clients. Pocketing the excess. Harry’s work email has had quite a few complaints sent to it from your clients about how the amount they were asked to pay was significantly more than the amount given to them on their invoices.”

She leaned into me, her forehead against the lapel of my suit jacket. “I’m going to kill him, Jack. I can’t go in there. I’ll stab a pen into his throat?—”

“Shhh, my little murderer. You’re not going to kill him,” I chuckled, pushing her back from me and wrapping my fingers gently around her wrists. I pried her hands from her eyes, little bits of mascara stuck just below her lashes. “You’re going to stand up for yourself, show him you’re the better person. Lie a little and show him that this hasn’t affected you in the slightest. You’re strong, Mandy. You can do it.”

She sniffled as I wiped away the clumps of mascara, making sure she looked pristine. If she looked it, she’d hopefully feel it, and she needed to feel it.

“You’ve got this, princess.”

————

“If we take you to court, Harry Voss, you would easily get twenty years at a minimum,” I drawled, leaning back in my absurdly comfortable chair. I was so happy I’d splurged on that. “We are willing to work out a deal with you, and for that, you should be grateful.”

Mandy sat beside me, one hand on the arm of my chair, her knuckles white from squeezing it.

“My client would like to know the terms of the deal before he agrees to anything,” Harry’s lawyer said. She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes wandering between me, Harry, Mandy, and my lawyer, Andrew, who sat on the other side of me.

Andrew clicked his pen and leaned forward. “Ms. Littleson would take over any existing clientele Mr. Voss still has. Ms. Littleson would also gain complete control of the company, and Mr. Voss would forfeit any rights he has to it, including any assets or board privileges. A payment plan would be put in place directly from Mr. Voss to L&V Interiors to cover the amount of the embezzlement, which, as it stands, looks to be just over one hundred thousand dollars. The money will then be given directly back to the clients that were overcharged during Mr. Voss’s time at the company.”

Harry’s lawyer looked at him, leaning close to whisper in his ear.

“Oh, and one more thing,” I said. My lips twitched up as I caught Harry’s answering sneer that spread across his face. “You’ll sign an NDA. You won’t speak to anyone about my and Mandy’s relationship, the situation we were put in, or even mention our names. It’s outlined in the paperwork more thoroughly but do know that if you break the terms of the NDA, the entire agreement crumbles. We’ll come after you for every penny you’re worth, which after this, seems to be… well, not much.”

“Jack,” Mandy hissed.

“Her restraining order will still stand. You will keep away from her and your only contact will be in lawyer-sanctioned meetings to discuss this agreement moving forward,” I added.

Harry’s jaw twitched as he turned to his lawyer, whispering back to her.

“Mr. Voss would like to adjust the terms,” she sighed.

“Then he can see us in the courtroom,” I deadpanned.

“Just fucking sign it, Harry,” Mandy said, cutting the answering silence. It was the first time she’d spoken since we’d walked in, and just hearing her voice lay into the asshole made my heart swell. “You’re not going to get a better deal. It’s this or prison.”

Harry formed his lips into a thin line, his eyes glued on her. “Fine,” he sighed, plucking the pen off the table in front of him and pulling the papers to him. “I’ll sign it. You’re welcome, Miranda.”

“It’s Mandy,” she snapped.

————

The weight of the meeting was well and truly gone by the time Mandy and I made it outside. The late afternoon sun was beginning to set, and it was unseasonably slightly warm. The snow was melting, spring was beginning, and just knowing that this was another season I’d have with her was enough to set my heart alight.

Everything felt so unbelievably right. More than I could have ever imagined, even more so than ten years ago. I could die happy right now. We’d gotten our justice with Harry, we’d taken each other on for real this time, both of us all in.

I revved the engine of my Harley, warming it up as Mandy got on the back. Her arms wrapped around my waist, palms flat against my torso, her body pressed against my back. It felt like our world had come full circle.

There was one thing I still needed to do though. One thing to make it right, and I’d do it for real this time. Not for the press, not for our reputations. For us.

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