Page 83 of Camping with the Boss

Everyone shuffles as they look around, but Wade doesn’t move. “I know why.”

“Really? You’ve been CEO of Darian Enterprises for over ten years. The question isn’t why. It’swhy now?”

“Shut up, Owen,” Meredith says, glaring furiously. Then she stands and smiles at Wade. “Don’t listen to him, Wade dear. This man will say anything to get out of trouble.”

Wade narrows his eyes. “He hasn’t said anything yet.” He nods at Owen. “I’m listening.”

“She’s been sabotaging you every step of the way. It started with Tim, but it didn’t end there. She didn’t want this retreat to happen, so she paid River fifty thousand dollars to not show up.”

“What?” I stare at my brother in shock, the murmurs of outrage from everyone else barely registering.

“No,” River says, jumping to his feet. “Not exactly.” He glances around the room until his eyes settle on me. Pleading. “A week ago, I received an envelope with twenty-five thousand dollars in cash and an anonymous note. It said I’d get the other half when the retreat was called off.”

I shake my head. “River, how could you?”

“Look, I didn’t know what to do. You’re always stressed about money, Can. That money could have paid off the car. And got us caught up on the house payments. It’s not good for you to worry so much.”

I don’t know what to say. I can see how tempting that would be, but I shake my head again. It’s still wrong.

“I wasn’t going to do it, I swear.” He turns to Wade and holds out his hands. “Dude, you and I worked so hard to put this thing together. I wasn’t going to bail. But I went out the night before the retreat to clear my head. And I learned that—” He glares at Owen. “You told me about the Tim thing. Details I didn’t have. And said the company was losing money under Wade’s leadership.”

He shrugs. “I didn’t lie.”

I get now why Al punched the guy. I want to punch him too. But I ignore Owen and focus on my brother.

“I went to see Tim. I wanted the truth. He didn’t tell me everything, but enough to know this was all a setup. I wanted to warn you, Wade. Then Jet told me the retreat was still going and that my brother—” He stops and shakes his head. “I didn’t spend the money. I planned to give it to Wade after the retreat and tell him everything.”

Wade shakes out his hands. “I don’t get it,” he says. “Why would Meredith or anyone go to all this trouble?”

George clears his throat and slowly stands. “I think I know the answer to that.” He scratches his head. “Wade, you and Jared have been pushing for an external audit of the books ever since Tim left. Just to make sure he didn’t mess with anything. Meredith has been fighting it. She wants an internal audit.”

“Oh my God. She’s been embezzling money this entire time,” Jared says, as if everything is finally clicking into place.

“Ta-da!” Owen throws his arms out as if he’s the grandmaster at some fucked-up parade. “Took you long enough.” He walks over to Meredith. “Don’t piss on the tech guy, lady. They know where to hide shit.”

“Do you have proof?” Silas asks.

“Yup. An external audit will find it, but I have everything you need to put her away for a long time.”

“You’ll be implicating yourself.”

Owen shrugs. “I hope to make a deal. But whatever. No amount of money is worth working with this evil b?—”

“Arrrrgg.” Meredith lunges at him, but Silas grabs her before she can make contact.

Sirens blare in the background. Thank God someone thought to call the police.

After the police take statements and escort Owen and Meredith away, Wade gets everyone’s attention. “I have an announcement.” He takes a deep breath, and everyone else holds theirs. “As of today, I am stepping down as CEO of Darian Enterprises.”

Chapter Twenty

Wade

Friday, June 13th, 5:45 p.m.

“What are you doing?” Canyon asks, grabbing my arm and turning me away from the group. “This has been your goal since you were a kid. Don’t let her steal that from you.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

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