Page 109 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“He knew where I worked, but not why I had no references,” I reply flatly. I don’t know what to feel anymore. “And I only told HR a little more than that.”
“What is Silas getting out of this though? Didn’t you say he went to extremes to cover his tracks with you?” Beck asks, but it’s Elijah who answers him.
“These photos were leaked around midnight. I tried to reach you, but it kept going to voicemail, so I met Teddy at the office, and he found court documents. Silas’s wife filed for divorce about a month ago, citing infidelity as the cause, and he’s been wiped from the Chelsea Day School website.”
Beck stares at him while he processes this information.
“It’s not a stretch to assume that Caleb gave Danica the information, which she probably then told his wife,” Beck mutters. “Then knowing he had nothing to lose, she went to him with this fucking slaughter campaign.” He shakes his head and takes in Elijah’s appearance. “You’ve been in the office since midnight?”
“Teddy texted as soon as he found some information. We’ve been digging through the mud ever since.”
“I owe that fucking kid a raise already,” Beck mumbles while I sit mute.
Beck’s phone chimes with another picture. This one is of the Currituck County Courthouse.
“She’s using this to get custody of the girls.” Beck’s voice is low but his jaw flexes with every controlled word.
My hand covers my mouth as I shake my head and tuck my feet underneath me. The urge to curl into a ball is overwhelming.
“That’s what I thought too,” Elijah says, holding out two cups of coffee. Beck and I take them gratefully, but honestly, the events of the last three minutes have given me more of a jolt than caffeine ever would.
Once he’s grabbed his own mug, Elijah rounds the sofa and sits in front of us on the coffee table. “So,” he says with a grin. Why the hell is he smiling? “Here’s what I’m thinking. You two started dating after the office party last spring.”
Beck sets down his coffee and leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “And?” he encourages.
“Stella’s my friend and attended the party as my guest. That would mean you were already an item before Caleb’s assistant quit and I tossed her name into the hat. You were never even involved in the hiring process, Beck. All our paperwork shows she was hired by HR and approved by Caleb. And we don’t have a fraternization policy, so you didn’t break any rules.”
“That would mean we’ve been together for close to a year,” Beck mumbles.
My gaze ping-pongs between these two men who are rewriting our history.
Beck catches me watching and winks. “Teamwork, Stella Jane. It’s not so bad after all.”
And he’s right. It’s not. For the first time in my adult life, I’m part of something real. Something good.
“Welcome to the club, Stella. Lottie’s going to flip.”
Beck and I both swing our slack-jawed stares to him. “What?”
“Elijah,” Beck asks, reclining on the sofa, “how do you know Lottie, and how are you connected to the hotline?”
“Easy,” he leans back on his hands with sparkling eyes. “Lottie’s my sister.”
“Charlie?” Beck asks.
Elijah laughs. “Yeah, she stopped insisting we call her Charlie when she was about fourteen. She’s Lottie now, and I’m helping her stick it to our father by using his clients for her business.”
“What?” Beck and I both ask.
“Yup, you two were just a bonus, but we’ll discuss that later. Right now, you both need to be on the same page. So you’ve been together for a year and kept it private for obvious reasons. But now you’re taking it to the next level.” He reaches into his pocket and hands Beck a small velvet box. “So it doesn’t need to be kept a secret anymore. Of course, since I’m best friends with both of you, I’ve known all along. Stella’s mom knows.” He frowns and corrects himself. “Knew, but since neither of you have other friends, that’s where it stopped. And now?—”
“Now we’re getting married,” Beck finishes.
“Yes.” Elijah claps. “Will I be the best man or the man of honor?” He hands us both a file. “This is everything you would have learned about each other in the last year. Memorize it.”
I set down my coffee to open the folder and it’s everything from Beck’s middle name—Heath—to allergies—cats. Beck does the same thing and I peer over his shoulder.
My nose scrunches up and I glare at Elijah. “How do you know my feet are always cold?”
