Page 93 of Ice Cold Christmas
“Leave everything as it is.” That paperwork was confidential. “Get any and all access keys that Dario has to Mage Industries. After I talk with him, he will be escorted from the building.” A pause. “He will not be coming back.”
The guard—Hayward Young—straightened. “Yes, sir.” He hurried from the room, but not before staring, wide-eyed, at Melody. “Good to see you, Ms. Mage,” he murmured. He exited, leaving the door open.
Victor glared at the mess.
“Victor.” Melody’s hand turned in his grip. “I want to know what’s happening, and I want to know right now.”
He opened his mouth to tell her.
“I couldn’t stop him!” A yell from the hallway. A woman’s yell.
Victor turned, letting go of Melody’s hand and automatically moving to stand in front of her. Olivia barreled down the hallway. Her intent was clearly to reach his open office. Where in the world had she been? None of the guards had mentioned her.
Tear tracks glistened on her cheeks. Hayward moved into her path, but Calista had already beat him to the interception. “You need to stop.” Calista’s hand shoved back her coat to reveal her holster. “Right the hell now.”
Olivia screamed and scrambled back. “What in the hell? No, no! Don’t shoot me!”
“I don’t plan to do so,” Calista informed her. “Unless you pose a serious threat.”
“Victor!” Melody pushed at his back. “Why is Olivia here?”
“Dario must have brought her.” Dario had keycards and access materials. Olivia didn’t.
“I need to talk to Melody!” Olivia stretched around Calista. “Melody, I have to tell you about your mother. I have to tell you what is happening!” She pointed at Victor. “You’re being lied to by him! He’s manipulating you. Victor has just been using you all along! Victor knows what your father did, and I think he blackmailed Sebastian into giving him control of the company.”
Melody stepped to Victor’s side. She peered down the hallway.
Olivia’s eyes locked on her. Desperation filled her expression. “Victor never came here to save Mage Industries. Never. He came to destroy it. He wants to destroy the whole family! That’s why Dario and I are here now—we were looking for proof! We have to stop him!” More tears poured from Olivia’s eyes. “I am your best friend. I have been friends with you since the sixth grade when Mary Hodgins called me fat and you told her to kiss both of our fat asses. You have always had my back, and I’ve got yours. I’m telling you—Victor is lying! He’s trying to hurt you!”
“You’re leaving,” Calista said, voice sharp. “Now.”
Hayward took a cautious step forward.
“No!” A desperate screech from Olivia. “Melody, listen to me! Listen! When the guards were hauling Dario downstairs, I called Detective Clinton! Told him everything. He’s coming here.”
Great. Just what Victor didn’t need. Another damn interrogation with the dick detective.
“I know you don’t have your memory, Melody! I know! The detective told me—he called Dario after he met with you at the station. He told us that you didn’t remember anything. Said he was worried about you. That he didn’t trust Victor.”
The detective had always suspected him. Angus had stonewalled the investigation and suspected Victor and done jack shit to truly find Melody.
Fresh tears trickled down Olivia’s cheeks. “That’s why Dario and I had to act! Why we had to search Victor’s office. To find evidence for the detective. Melody, please, believe me! Victor is using you. He’s been using you all along. Playing some sick game to get revenge.”
So they’d both searched his office? To find evidence for the damn detective? What. The. Hell?
“Victor?” Melody’s hesitant voice. “What is she talking about? What revenge?” Her hands twisted in front of her. “Why would you want to get revenge on me? What did I do?”
Not a damn thing. “Hayward, escort Olivia from the building.”
The guard snapped his gaping mouth closed. Nodded. “Yes, sir.” He shuffled forward.
A door opened down the hallway. Luis poked his head out. “Everything all right?” he demanded.
No, things were pretty fucked sideways.
Calista and Hayward reached for Olivia.
“Do not put your hands on me!” she yelled. “Melody, Victor is twisted! Listen to me! You have got to listen! I first began to suspect the truth months ago. Sebastian was rambling about a fire. Saying it shouldn’t have happened…I did some digging because I was all like…what the fuck is he talking about? What fire? And I found out that there was a horrible fire at a Mage factory in Alabama years ago. It was ruled an accident, but—God, corners were cut! Managers weren’t following safety protocols. People died. Victor’s father was one of the people who died at the Mage factory!”
