Page 16 of The Dom

Maybe Ashlee hadn’t locked the drawer like she thought she had. If that was the case, the drive could’ve vanished at any point in time from the previous Friday afternoon until the day I’d realized it was gone. I could only hope I got lucky.

The clarity of the recording was such that I could see how haggard Ashlee looked. I hadn’t even noticed it when I’d called her to my office. Or I hadn’t let myself notice. I’d been all about how I’d thought I’d been wronged.

I pushed aside the guilt. Ashlee and I had moved past it. I wasn’t going to let it distract me from getting to the truth. I focused even more firmly on the video.

She wasn’t at her desk long, and though I didn’t look away as she walked out of the camera’s view, I cringed at the memory of what I’d been doing at that time.

On screen, Suzie Lamas arrived, walking past Ashlee’s empty desk without a second glance. When Ashlee returned from, well, from being fired, I was relieved to see that her back was to the camera. Maybe I was a coward for not wanting to see her face, but I was still glad.

It hadn’t taken her long to take what was hers, and I had a clear line of sight as she set her desk key next to the keyboard. I hadn’t seen her unlock the desk, so as long as she’d locked it before she’d left on Friday, the flash drive was in the drawer when she left Monday morning.

For several minutes, nothing else happened on screen. Then, Stu came in, and behind him, I could see a few of the marketing department employees in the background. None of them were close enough to Ashlee’s desk to warrant my attention, so I kept watching. Nearly ten more minutes of virtually nothing passed before something notable happened.

A woman strolled over to the desk, casually looking around as if she didn’t have anything specific she was supposed to be doing. Considering I rewarded employees for not dawdling, her nonchalant attitude was a red flag. She stepped around the corner of the desk and scooped up the key.

I leaned forward as she unlocked the desk drawer and felt around inside. She pulled out a few pens, a stapler, a couple USB cords…and the flash drive. Everything else she put back into the drawer. The drive she dropped down the front of her shirt, and I assumed, into her bra. After locking the drawer again, she returned the key to where she’d taken it from.

She was half a dozen steps away when the IT guy walked past her on his way to Ashlee’s desk. Her face hadn’t yet been at the right angle for me to get a definite ID, but when she turned nearly completely around to check out the IT guy, I was able to positively put a name to a face.

I closed the file, sent a thank you to security, and then pulled up a blank email. I wasn’t required to tell anyone what I’d just found since it was more than enough proof to justify firing the thief, but I didn’t want this coming back to bite me or Ashlee in the ass. I typed out a succinct explanation of what I’d seen and what I was going to do, then sent it to Stu, Suzie, Finley, and HR. Once that was done, I stood up. I wasn’t going to wait another minute.

As I went to the elevator, I kept my face blank but polite, not doing any more than nodding to Ashlee the exact same way I nodded to everyone else I passed. I’d talk to her when I came back up, but only to let her know what’d happened.

The moment Clara Dayton saw me coming, the color drained from her face, leaving her skin a grayish tone that made me wonder if she was going to pass out before I could confront her. She was on her feet by the time I reached her but had a hand on her desk as if she needed to steady herself.

“Mr. Lexington, how can I help you?”

“Do you still have the flash drive?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it without making a sound. She nodded, gaze falling as she picked up her purse. She rummaged through it and then pulled out the flash drive. She held it out with a shaking hand, dropping it into my outstretched palm as soon as it was close enough.

“You’re fired.”

I turned to walk away, stopping when she spoke. “Don’t you want to know why?”

I didn’t even bother to look at her. “It doesn’t matter why. You stole company property.”

“Flora’s my friend.”

I turned now, annoyance replacing the cool calm I’d been projecting.

“Ashlee should’ve gotten fired too.” Clara’s color had returned with a vengeance, staining her cheeks an ugly red. “I’m going to HR, and I’m going to file a complaint that you’re firing anyone who won’t–”

I held up a hand and she, thankfully, shut up. “I came down here myself to see if you would go graciously, knowing that you were lucky that I didn’t call the cops and report you for stealing. I’ll give you until I reach the elevator to leave. If you’re not gone, I’ll be having security detain you until the police arrive, and I’ll go straight to the in-house counsel to find every single charge we can have filed against you.”

By now, people were staring at her, and I hoped that would give her the incentive she needed to leave right away. She may have deserved to get arrested for stealing, but I just wanted this done and behind me. I wanted to be able to stop at Ashlee’s desk and tell her what had happened.

And maybe ask if she knew anyone who’d make a good receptionist.

Ten

Ashlee

I could do this. Nate had thoroughly separated my job from his position, and there was even precedent for it. Manhattan Records contracted security on retainer and outside catering for events. Granted, my position was technically more involved than companies used only for specific times, but it wasn’t like I was the only person hired this way. No special treatment for me.

I was still telling myself that when Nate stopped at my desk. I’d seen him pass by a few minutes ago, and he hadn’t even looked at me. That had been good, the way things were supposed to be now. As little contact as possible while at work so we could be together outside without any conflicting interests. But he didn’t walk past this time. He stopped.

“Good afternoon,” I said politely, hoping I sounded professional and distant.

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