Chapter 14

MADDIE

“I’m sorry,” Nancy says when he finally lets me go. “He is the touchy feely type, but harmless, I assure you.”

“I like to hug. What can I say, Nancy?” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

“It’s okay. My family is like that too.”

“Let me buy you a drink, Maddie” he says, quickly as the bartender approaches.

“Thank you. A vodka and cranberry, please.”

“I will be right back, Maddie. I have to use the ladies’ room.”

I give her a ‘don’t you dare leave me alone with your father’ look, but she smiles and turns away. “Please, get to know each other.”

She walks off before I can say anything more and leaves me with her very good-looking father. Although he doesn’t look anything like her, he seems genuine and very kind. He is just a little over the top. It makes me wonder how a man like this could possibly get himself into such trouble.

“Nancy told me what you offered, and I can’t thank you enough. You are truly a good person.”

“I was raised to try to help others. I just hope this will help. Do you have a plan on how to repay this debt? This isn’t my money. I had to lie to my father to get the money. He thinks he is helping me invest in a deal that doesn’t exist.”

He looks at me and shakes his head as if in awe at my kindness. Next thing I know, his arms are around me again. “I just can’t thank you enough. You have saved my life.” He squeezes me tightly before letting go.

“Thank you,” I mumble. I look out to the back of the bar, wondering where Nancy is when her father turns my face to his and kisses me on the lips. My eyes are wide and we are frozen for the longest moment in my life.

“No, thank you,” he says, letting me go.

The bartender walks to us with my drink and as soon as he sets it down, I grab it and hold it in front of me putting an extra chair between me and Nancy’s father.

The entire night is odd for me but I need to stick around to be sure what his intentions were on paying me back and what kind of counseling he is planning on getting for his addiction. Maybe it is forward of me to ask, but I did just front two-hundred-thousand dollars to a complete stranger and his daughter who, just a few days ago, tried to get me fired. I’m insane.

I open my purse and I start to pull out the envelope full of cash. Looking at each of them, I realize this is the moment of truth. How well do I trust these people that I can hand over so much money with no way of guaranteeing I will get it back? My hesitation makes them uneasy.

“Can we do this someplace more private?” Nancy asks, putting her hand on my arm. “I don’t feel right here.”

I push it back into my purse. “The restaurant is just down the street. We could go there.” I look at the time on my cell phone. “It should be closed by now. I have a key.”

“Perfect,” she says, getting up.

When we get inside the restaurant and I turn off the alarm, we sit at a table close to the front. I hesitate before pulling out the envelope and I feel Nancy’s hand on my arm again.

“Maddie? I know it’s a lot of money, and I assure you that my dad and I are so very grateful for what you are doing. Please know that we will both work really hard to pay you back, to pay your father back.”

“I know. It’s just, not easy to do this.”

I take a big breath and hand the envelope to her father.

“You have no idea what this means to us,” says Nancy.

“If you’ll excuse me.” I stand up and grab my purse. “I’ll be right back.”

I walk into the bathroom and just stand there, looking at my reflection in the mirror. “Please tell me I’m doing a good thing. Don’t let this bite me in the ass.”

I wash my face with a little cold water and pat it dry before walking back out. Nancy is sitting quietly alone with her hands folded in her lap.

“Where is your dad?” I ask, looking around.

“He had to go already.”

“Why the long face?” And why is it making me nervous?

“I just miss him. That’s all. I sometimes wonder if he only contacts me when it is convenient for him.”

“Parents can be funny sometimes.”

“Thanks again, Maddie. You really came through for me. I promise I’ll work it off.”

“I’m just glad I could help.”

We decide to call it a night, promising to see each other at work the next day and I lock up after she leaves.

When I get home, I grab the pile of mail I had thrown on the desk as I left. I pull out a large manila envelope. Walking to the refrigerator, I grab one of the last two beers and I walk into my room. I plop down on my bed, looking at the envelope.

That’s odd, there’s no postmark, no stamp.

I open it and pull the contents out. My heart drops down into the pit of my stomach as I look at a picture of Rocco and me in a heated embrace on a glossy eight-by-ten photograph. My breathing is shallow. What the hell? I can’t tell where we are. The close-up of our faces takes up the entire picture. I slide it to the back and look at the next one showing his hand underneath my shirt. I glance at the floor next to my bed. It is the same shirt I wore earlier today in his office. The next one is a similar embrace but in front of the couch he carried me to. The passion in our faces, the heat in our kiss, these photographs show it all. My fingers loosen and my head gets dizzy as the pictures fall to the floor. I feel a warmth flood over me. Who would do this? I look down at the pictures scattered on my carpet.

“I have to talk to Joanne before someone tries to use these against me or Rocco.”