Three days, thirty drafts of my presentation, and ten million cups of coffee later, I walk into the reserved conference room at work to see Nadia sitting at the head of the table and Derek just sitting down.

I thought I had seen him coming in from the elevator while I was getting copies, but I hadn't said anything.

I mean, to call out his name at work would've sort of been unprofessional, you know?

That, and the fact that I haven't returned his calls for the last three days. I mean, it's not that I was avoiding him. I just didn't want to deal with a situation where he could potentially ask me about today and I'd either have to compromise my principles at work or have to tell Derek I love him but also need to think about what's best for my career.

So yeah, I guess I probably was avoiding him, huh?

Derek turns to look at me and I blush inadvertently as I feel his eyes travelling over my body. I don't know if it was intentional or what, but today is a lace underwear day.

Maybe because it makes me feel sexy? Maybe because it makes me feel older? Or the big meeting I'm hosting?

Whatever it is, today is the day that I bust out the La Perla black lace bra and thong. That just means that I had to go with the black skirt and white silk blouse that's a bit too tight around the boobs. Add some nice Tiffany's earrings and a sterling silver pendant and some makeup and throw on a suit coat and I'm so uber professional that after this meeting is over I'm going to go pose once or twice in the bathroom in front of the mirror.

But if Derek had his way, he'd probably throw me on the conference table and rip off my clothes. That's how hungrily dude is staring at me.

And he's not bad looking either, you know? The guy is in a tailored double-breasted dark suit that is cut so well that there is absolutely no hiding how gorgeous of a body he has. Those cut pecs that are sculpted in such a way that you can run your tongue down the crease of his upper chest. Those 8-pack abs. Ohmigosh. Talk about the last thing you need to be thinking about right before a meeting.

Somehow, and again chica, I don't know how, I manage to calmly pull out the chair and sit down.

I clear my throat and am about to dive in, when...

"Actually, Alicia, I think it's best if I start," Nadia says. Her tone is cold and impersonal and I cock my head. "I think it's better if you simply answer the questions as they're posed to you.

"Okay," I say, a bit puzzled.

"I need to ask you some very difficult questions about Derek Lowell's account right now," Nadia says, her face impassive.

I nod.

Why is my heart rate suddenly increasing?

"Three months ago, attorneys for Mr. Lowell reached out to our Legal & Compliance division because they were concerned about some odd activity taking place in his account," Nadia says and as I listen to her I see the door open and one of the lawyers, a Thomas Wright, from Legal walk in. "We've been conducting an internal investigation and we believe that you've been embezzling money from the account, Alicia."

Wait.

Did I hear that right?

What the fuck?

"I'm sorry?" is all I really manage to croak out.

Nadia turns to the lawyer who sighs and opens his briefcase.

"Ms. Sullivan," Mr. Wright says, referring to some paperwork as he says my last name, "Over the last three months, we've noticed a series of very improper money transfers in Mr. Lowell's account."

I nod impatiently. This is exactly why I called the meeting. I should have maybe specified it in the invite, but I didn't want to cause a lot of fuss.

"Transfers to countries that are specifically forbidden by the Federal Government because they are known havens for terrorism and money laundering," Mr. Wright continues and I nod simply. I have all the proof I need being told to me. I'm not worried.

"At the same time, Mr. Lowell's attorneys believed that there was someone within Carter Jeffries who was embezzling from his account," the lawyer continues and then looks at me. "Something like this if it were to get out would be severely damaging to the reputation of the bank."

That's exactly what I was thinking when I called this meeting, bub!

"We knew that whoever was stealing from Mr. Lowell, since they were working within the Firm, would most likely seek to cover their tracks if the entire situation were scrutinized further," Mr. Wright says. "So, Mr. Lowell took a more active role and made himself available to your group under the guise of seeing the performance of his investments. Over the last month once Mr. Lowell began taking an active role, we saw that we were correct in our assumption and the thief began to try to cover their tracks."

Why is my heart suddenly dropping to my stomach?

"It corresponds to the time you began to somehow directly log into Mr. Lowell's account," Mr. Wright says to me.

Wait.

"I was doing the research that my manager asked me to do," I say quickly. "In the analysis of Mr. Lowell's account."

Mr. Wright looks at me with a puzzled expression. "That seems highly unlikely, Ms. Sullivan, and is almost impossible. The Firm has a policy against placing that level of access upon those at the Analyst level--"

I'm just not even going to let him finish that one.

"I completely understand," I say with a flourish. "That's why when Nadia gave me this assignment, she promoted me to Associate," I say and lean back. This is all some horrible misunderstanding.

Mr. Wright looks toward Nadia. I look toward Nadia. I can tell from the corner of my eye that Derek is looking toward her too.

"Alicia," Nadia says slowly, "When I told you to prepare the investment options based on Mr. Lowell's visit, I never told you to go through his account. And," she says and pauses and laughs to herself. "There is no way I ever promoted you to Associate."

It's like someone took a giant baseball bat and just hit me in the face.

"We don't do promotions until the end of the year, and you're still too new to the Firm," Nadia continues as she looks through her phone. "And as far as I can see, there is no email or notification from me to HR telling them to move you to that level."

"In fact, Ms. Sullivan, did you not use your manager's credentials to log into Mr. Lowell's account?" Thomas Wright asks me.

Fuck. I don't know what to answer.

I feel like throwing up.

My head is spinning.

I think I've been set up.

"I'm going to take your silence as a sign of guilt, Ms. Sullivan," the lawyer says as he sits down next to me. "But you should know that the Firm will try to recover the damages from you on his behalf. We believe that you've stolen about $30 million dollars from Mr. Lowell so far."

Tears are streaming down my face as I look to Derek.

I can't tell what he's thinking.

$30 million dollars?

This global bank is about to go to war with me.

How am I going to even be able to pay that back? The number is absolutely ridiculous.

Especially because after my Starbucks today I only have $347.14 in my checking account.

I wonder if Carter Jeffries does a 7,000-year payment plan.