Page 138 of Hoax and Kisses
“Do you have access to the company’s files?” Lola asks, nodding toward my laptop.
“I do.”
I open it, connect to my phone’s hotspot, and log in to Imperial Excellence’s servers.
“So we find other examples, then we build a case against the company,” Charlee says. “That should do the trick, shouldn’t it?”
I swallow. “That’s the plan.”
My dad betrayed, lied to, used, and humiliated me. By all accounts, I shouldrelishthe thought of ripping his legacy to shreds. I should crave the satisfaction of watching it all burn to the ground. But we’re talking about bringing the whole corporation down. His life’s work. I can’t shake the sticky feeling crawling up my spine at the idea. I won’t back down. But Imperial Excellence is all I’ve ever known.
“We don’t have to do this,” Matt whispers, his gaze fixed on where my fingers hover above the keyboard. “We can find another way.”
“I don’t—” Charlee starts.
“We can find another way.” Matt cuts her off sharply, punctuating every word.
I shake my head. “No, she’s right.” I blow out a deep breath, opening our acquisition data. “This is our best shot.”
All I have left is this town. These people. And I’ll do everything I can to protect them from Oscar Marchiatto.
Turns out, good old Dad has a lot of skeletons and shady business deals in his closet.
Questionable expropriations, construction on wetlands, last-minute changes to plans without approval from our architectural firm. We discovered at least five projects in the last ten years that raised my eyebrows.
In the past two weeks, with the help of Matt’s friends, we’ve put together a solid case against Imperial Excellence, one concrete enough to present to the authorities. During those twoweeks, we called mayors and contractors, gathered information, and asked for evidence. And bit by bit, we built an irrefutable record.
I leave my rental car in the company’s underground parking and turn off the engine. Matt offered to come with me—insisted is more like it—but this is something I have to do on my own.
It’smydad to confront,mymess to clean,myfuture to build.
My inner child to heal.
As I’m striding for the elevators, my phone rings.
“Hi, handsome.”
“Did you make it there okay?” Matt’s voice is tinny and a little choppy down here under the building.
“Just parked.” I press the elevator button with a shaky finger, my heart thumping against my breastbone. “Heading for his office now.”
“How do you feel?”
I heave out a sigh. “Ready for it to be over.”
He hums. “I understand. When you get home tonight, Daph and I will be ready to welcome you back with ice cream and a movie. Right, Daph?”
“Zoey can have the ice cream,” she calls in the background. “I want the popcorn.”
“Okay.” I can’t help but smile at the sound of her voice. “I’m going up,” I say as the elevator doors whoosh open. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it. Give him hell. I love you.”
“I love you.”
All the way up, my eyes remain fixed on the floor numbers as they scroll by.
Three. The number of weeks it took me to realize I was my dad’s puppet.
