Page 92 of My Ex-Fiance's Best Men
“It’s what you get for raising your daughter like that,” August tells Mom. “You reap what you sow, Helen. But one thing is for sure. Once the lawmen are done with you, you’ll never set foot in this building again. And Phoebe will get what is rightfully hers.”
“And with a little bit of luck, she might even be able to save the company you damn near drove into the ground,” Theo adds.
Penny scoffs and shakes her head. “Shame on you both for trying to pin this on Phoebe. For treating her the way you have. I hope the two of you get enough time behind bars to actually reflect on everything you’ve done. I hope the guilt eats you up from the inside.”
“I’m not saying a word without my lawyer,” Helen declares as a federal agent joins us in the conference room, a pair of cuffs in his hand.
Right behind him, two more FBI agents follow, one of them holding a second pair of cuffs for Crystal.
“Your lawyer is right there,” Dominic chuckles and points to Mr. Harding. “He’s just… momentarily overwhelmed.”
“Helen Baldwin, you’re under arrest for suspicion of fraud and embezzlement along with several other charges, all listed in this warrant signed by Judge Garrett,” the first agent says.
“Crystal Baldwin, you’re under arrest for suspicion of fraud, embezzlement and several other charges?—”
“Yeah, yeah, get me in front of the DA and I’ll gladly work out a deal,” Crystal cuts the second agent off, drawing Mom and Mr. Harding’s instant fury as she’s cuffed.
“Crystal!” Mom tries to stop her, but it’s too late.
It’s all shattered. Broken wide open for everyone to see.
“This is preposterous!” Mom protests as the cuffs lock tightly around her wrists.
All I can do is watch as the horror movie finally comes to an end. As the storm clouds gather over my world, then split and shimmer away, making room for a golden ray of sunshine that marks a new beginning.
“It’s over,” I tell my mother. “Make your peace with that.”
She gives me a hard, nasty look as the agents escort her and Crystal out. Mr. Hardy follows them closely, citing legal issues and reaffirming their rights to counsel. No one’s fighting him on it, though. No one really cares.
“I said I’m making a deal!” I hear Crystal shout as she’s escorted away.
It really is over.
30
PHOEBE
Dominic, August, and Theo stay close to my side while I take a seat and a few long sips of ice water. Outside the boardroom, chaos has ensued as dozens of agents roam through the building, packing legal and financial documents into labeled boxes. Our employees mumble and mutter as they’re asked to keep their distance, all of them understandably distraught and confused. I can see them through the boardroom’s open doors.
I imagine a similar chaos unfurling in the finance department. The accounting department. The IT units downstairs. They’re all subject to intense scrutiny. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all.
“Are you okay?” Theo asks me, his hands resting on my knees.
“Had a bit of a spell,” I reply with a weak smile. “It’s been a long night, and an even longer morning. I’m kind of hungry.”
Penny smiles as she sits on the edge of the conference table. “We did it, babe.”
“No,youdid it,” I correct her. “You were incredible just now! Holy smokes, Penny.”
“When the detective told us Crystal had bailed you out, we knew they were up to no good. We had to get here before something awful happened. Something we might not have been able to undo.”
“Like me signing those legal documents and renouncing my shares, my trust fund, my whole future. A future my dad worked so hard to secure for me.”
“But you didn’t sign,” Dominic says.
I give him a pained look. “I almost did, though. I just wanted it to be over. I just wanted them to leave me alone.”
“It’s okay,” August gently comforts me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “We’ve got you, baby. We’ve got you. Always. You made it.”
