Ashley

I was riding the wave of still being upset with Jimmy. I called work and told Jimmy I was taking an emotional day to myself. He didn’t seem happy about it, but he also didn’t question it. Of course, the real reason was that I wanted to get to the bottom of this L.R. thing.

I wanted to be able to finish my research before I moved into my new apartment.

“Did someone order pizza?”

I smiled as I got off the couch when Chipper wagged his tail at the door.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” I said.

“Tomorrow’s the big move-in day. You ready?” Cass asked.

“Yep. Everything’s packed. Just getting some last-minute work done.”

“Lots of numbers stuff I don’t care about?” she asked.

“I think you’ll care about this.”

“Oh, something juicy. Let Chipper and me curl up so we can listen.”

“Okay, so. I’ve been taking a look at some balance sheets, and I’ve been finding a lot of issues.”

“What kinds of issues?”

“A lot of money is being toggled, deposited where it shouldn’t be and withdrawn when it needs to be somewhere else. It’s all very small amounts, and the numbers get fudged to be right on the balance sheets. The end figure is right, but the numbers added and subtracted to get there don’t add up.”

“Oh, shit. Someone’s taking money from the company?” she asked.

“Not exactly. It’s really hard to follow at times, but it looks like some money’s taken right out, and some money is invested in stock options. Or at least dumped into that account. Some money’s even added, and it’s all in small chunks that aren’t tallied in the final figure on the sheet.”

“Someone’s giving the company money?”

“All I know is about twenty million dollars’ worth of money has been played around with for at least the past nine years, but I think it’s been happening since the beginning of the company.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Every transaction is paired with a username linking an accountant to the transaction. Certain accountants, among their other jobs, handle the budgets and accounts for certain departments in the company. Having a username there makes it easy to see who toggled the money and if it was placed in the right spot.”

“Because of what accounts they control. Got it.”

“Right. But usernames are usually a mixture of a first name, middle initial, and last name. Or some form that makes it easy to identify the person,” I said.

“Okay?”

“The weird transactions only have initials. L.R.”

“Not the format of usernames you guys use, I take it.”

“No. Not at all. I went through all the company logs to see who had the initials L.R. or R.L., and none of them make sense,” I said.

“Have you told Jimmy?”

“This is technically my responsibility, so I want all the answers before I go to him. Do you have some free time today?”

“I’m off today,” Cass said. “I closed down to give myself a day to breathe.”

“Wanna come to the library with me and do some research?”

“I’m not sure what you think you’ll find, and I think you’re crazy for not telling Jimmy, but sure. Sounds like fun.”

Our trip to the library was fruitless. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to find, but there was nothing. There were articles about Jimmy when he first started the company, and I looked to see if anyone was mentioned with those initials. I found public records of all the paperwork that went into starting Big Steps, and no one signed anything with the initials L.R. I was frustrated and left with dead ends and had all of these loose ends I had no idea how to tie together.

“You really need to tell him,” Cass said.

“But if I can’t find these answers, he’s going to think I’m incapable of doing my job,” I said.

“He didn’t hire you to be a detective, Ash. He hired you to be an accountant. You’ve done the accounting work. Now let him to the rest of it. Or whoever he has to do the rest of it.”

“I got this job because I took initiative.”

“And now you look like an idiot. You’re chasing all these dead ends hoping to solve some big mystery when it could all be a big misunderstanding. Did you ever think this might be a software issue?”

“I already talked with the tech department. I checked the equations in the spreadsheet application myself. They’re all correct. The coding is correct. The hardware’s only been changed out once, and that was to accommodate the load of clients Jimmy took on six years ago.”

“Shit. You really dug into this.”

“I really did, but I want solid proof. Jimmy is still recovering his image from that stuff in the media, and this would be a massive blow,” I said.

“Did he ever figure out who made the accusation? That shit was everywhere for days.”

“No, but he has a feeling about who it was. Hopefully, that issue was resolved today, but I don’t want to talk about it in case he’s trying to keep it under wraps.”

“That’s fine. I can respect that. Though I’ll secretly try to pry it out of you later,” she said.

“Duly noted. I want everything before I go to him. He can’t handle another blow like this.”

“I think you’re underestimating him a bit, don’t you think?”

But before I could answer Cass’s question, my phone rang in my purse.

“Hello?”

“Hey there.”

“Jimmy. Hi.”

Cass gave me a wry little grin as I sat back in my chair.

“I know you’re taking the day, but I thought maybe drinks tonight might cheer you up,” he said.

“Drinks with Markus, I take it?”

“Yes. Drinks with Markus. Is that okay?”

“Of course, it is,” I said. “I got some sleep and did some more work on these balance sheets, and I feel a little better. Not much, but I’m getting there.”

“I know these past couple of months have been a whirlwind for you, but I want you to know I’m here for you. I get it. Things can get tough, but everything is okay now.”

I felt my stomach drop at his words.

“Yeah. For now,” I said.

“Come get drinks. It’ll make you feel better. Pick you up at seven?”

“I’ll see you then.”

“Am I on doggy duty tonight again?” Cass asked.

“Could you?”

“Of course. I love that little guy,” she said.

“Thank you so much.”

“But you should tell him. If you want to pay me, then pay me that way. Tell Jimmy what’s going on with his company. It’s his company, Ashley.”

“Okay. I hear you. I’ll tell him. Once I can get moved. Yikes.”

“We are so throwing a massive party at your new place,” she said.

I gave Ocean Homes a call to confirm my move-in time for tomorrow. I was stacking boxes near the front door, making sure things could go smoothly in the morning. I tidied myself up a bit for drinks, picked out a nice dress, and decided to let my hair down for the evening.

I slapped on some makeup, slipped into a pair of heels, and waited for Jimmy to pick me up.

The drive over was silent but tense. I gripped Jimmy’s hand harder than I’d intended, and I could tell he was studying me. I felt beads of nervous sweat sliding down my back as my eyes gazed out the window.

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get through this weekend without telling him about what I’d found.

“Ashley. You look lovely as ever,” Markus said.

“You’re way too kind. Thank you,” I said.

The two of us embraced before Jimmy enveloped Markus in a hug.

“I hear Nina finally got what she deserved,” Markus said.

“Nina was arrested around four this afternoon,” Jimmy said.

“Well, that’s a relief,” I said.

“Good riddance too. That woman is nothing but trouble in heels,” Markus said.

“So, in celebration of having her out of our lives, we’re going to talk about anything else,” Jimmy said. “After I get back from the bathroom.”

I watched Jimmy get up from the booth, and he planted a kiss on my cheek. His touch was warm and inviting, and it settled the last of my nerves. I watched him walk away as a glass of wine was set in front of me, and I found Markus eyeing me curiously.

“You make him happy, you know.”

“He makes me happy too. I just hate that he has to put up with my anxiety sometimes,” I said.

“Jimmy’s the perfect man for someone like you. Never feel like you’re weighing him down.”

“I’ll try not to. Where’s Jamie tonight?”

“She had a spa day and then came back to the hotel and crashed. Must be hard getting massages and pedicures. I’ve been dragging her around to so many things that I didn’t have the heart to wake her up.”

“You’re a good man, Markus. She’s lucky to have you.”

“And I’m lucky to have her. I’m a hard man who’s rarely romantic, and I don’t know why she puts up with me.”

“Because you probably aren’t as rough with her as you think you are,” I said.

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” he said with a wink.

“And that’s why you and Jimmy get along. You’re both bad.”

“To the bone,” he said.

“Does your family live in Canada?” I asked. “That’s where you’re from, right?”

“No. I’m from right here in Miami. Self-made man here. But when I got my company off the ground, I hit some roadblocks, and it made me establish some outposts in Canada. My headquarters is in Alberta.”

“Do you like it there?”

“I do. So does my mother, when she can remember it.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“My mother has Alzheimer’s. I took her with me to keep her comfortable and keep her close to family. I’m all she’s got, and she doesn’t have much time anyway.”

“I’m so sorry. And can completely relate. My mother has Alzheimer’s too.”

“How far along is she in it?” he asked.

“Six years. It’s pretty advanced. I just had to sign off on bumping her treatment up a bit.”

“Those are rough days. I had to do it with my mother a few months ago. She’s almost at a point where medication and therapy don’t help.”

“Does she have any lucid moments?”

“If you're looking for reassurance, I’ve got none. She barely knows who I am now. It’s hard, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But I know when she does finally pass, she’ll be relieved of the hell her own mind put her in.”

I felt my eyes watering as I looked down into my wine glass.

“Don’t get mad at him, but Jimmy did mention it to me. He said your mom was having a bad day one day, and it sort of slipped. I wanted you to know that if you need someone who gets it, I get it. Jimmy’s a good supporter, but he doesn’t get it. And sometimes, you need someone who understands.”

“I’m not upset. You're like a father to Jimmy. I figured he’s probably told you a lot,” I said.

“Does she ever call you other people’s names?” he asked.

“No, but she does keep insisting I introduce her to my husband. She’s hell-bent on the fact that I got married.”

“The last time I visited my mother, she called me Lou, which was close. That’s my middle name. My father’s name was Lou, and I figured she thought maybe I was him.”

“Do you look a lot like your father?” I asked.

“People think that. I don’t see it, but we never want to see our parents in us when we age.”

“Age. Like you’re old or something,” I said with a grin.

“I feel old sometimes.”

“I bet Jamie doesn’t think that. Does correcting your mother ever make her upset?”

“All the time now. It used to not be like that, but this last time, I corrected her out of an automatic reaction, and she spiraled.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“Jimmy tells me he met your mother. How did that go?”

“Um, about as good as you could expect. She automatically assumed he was my husband and went on and on about our wedding. I was mortified until Jimmy started playing along.”

“He’s a good man like that. He’s encountered my mother a few times, so it wasn’t his first time with something like this.”

“She didn’t even get through the conversation before she forgot who he was.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s not a big deal. I mean it is, but I’m used to it. Jimmy took it well, and it doesn’t seem to have made him scream and run for the hills, so that’s a good thing.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Is your father still alive?”

“He’s not. Car accident took him a few years back.”

“Does your mother ever think he’s still alive?”

“Worse. She sometimes forgets she even got married. The nurses will come in and call her by her name, and she’ll correct them, tell them her last name is Roth and not Bryant.”

“How do you deal with that? How does it not break you?” I asked.

“I might drink a little too much for my own good sometimes. I talk with Jamie about it a lot. But mostly, it comes with times. As harsh as it sounds, you do get used to it. You have to. It’ll crumble you otherwise.”

“It really doesn’t get easier, does it?” I asked.

“No. But know that you can call me anytime you want if you want to talk about it. If talking to Jimmy or your friends don't work, get my number from Jimmy. He’ll understand.”

“Thanks, Markus. I appreciate it.”

“Did the toilet swallow that man whole?” Markus asked.

“Nope. I saw you were already finished with your drink and decided to get you another one.”

I looked up at Jimmy and saw him steadying the drinks in his hands. I reached up for the glass of wine he got for me, so it wouldn’t spill. Then, he handed Markus his drink. Jimmy’s touch on my back was comforting. Reassuring. And sitting at the table with someone who understood what I was going through relaxed me in a way I couldn't describe.

“To a bright future and a better life,” Jimmy said.

“Here, here,” Markus said.

Then the three of us clinked our glasses, settled back into our chairs, and laughed until our stomachs ached.