The next day I waited in my office. I’d already called for a colleague to join me. He was the contact I’d had throughout all the bullshit that went down with my dad, and he’d been helping me out since.

“I’m here, Gabe,” he called as he walked in.

I looked up and stood to shake his hand across the desk, then we both sat down. Julius Quells was the head of the accounting department. He and my father were something of friends, and I’d met him in university when I went to get my MBA. And once I found out he worked for my father’s company, we kept in touch. I was never more glad of that than I was in that moment.

“Julius,” I said in greeting. “Thank you for coming.”

“Please, think nothing of it. We both wish nothing but the best for this company, after all. I’m here to offer assistance in any way you need.”

Of all the allies to have, he was probably the best. He had high moral standards, and unlike a lot of people, he’d worked his way up from the bottom, which was why he and I ended up attending some of the same classes, though there was several years’ difference between the two of us. He was a hard worker, and as long as I didn’t fuck up as CEO, he would support me unconditionally.

So far, I hadn't been a disappointment. Though, my father would say differently.

“You heard that my secretary was arrested over the weekend?”

Julian nodded. “Yes, actually. It’s kinda weird when I think about it, though. Because I’m pretty sure no one is supposed to be in the know about the investigation, and her arrest wasn’t publicized. It’s on a lot of other floors beside mine, so I don’t know who spread the news.”

I braced my elbow on the desk, and fisted my hand to rest my chin on it. I hadn't even known about Jasmine, and if my father hadn't told me about it, I wondered how long it would have taken me to find out, and I knew someone in the investigation, same as my dad did.

“What exactly did you need me for?” he asked, curious.

“I might have something of a lead. Not so much in the case in general… but as to why they made a move and arrested Jasmine.”

“Wouldn’t it have happened anyway?” he pointed out. “She was your father’s secretary, and she was there the day they came for him.”

I shook my head. “No, see. I talked to my father about it. I didn’t want to bring it up with Jasmine, but I didn’t think I had to. My father told me they questioned her already and cleared her as a suspect. She was a person of interest, if anything, and only that.”

“So why do you think she was taken in?”

I drummed my fingers on the table, narrowing my eyes. “I’m sure you know Marianne.”

An eyebrow shot up. “The assistant? The one that’s always in the meetings meant for managers, even though her position is mostly undefined?”

I nodded. “I know she did work for more than just the CFO. She did things for the former CEO as well, and other officers on this floor. I didn’t look too much into how she got the position, anyway.”

“And Marianne was the one who…”

I shrugged. “I’ll admit I am sort of guessing, but I don’t think I’m wrong. She came into my office and tried to convince me that Jasmine was dirty.” I frowned. I hated putting it that way, but like hell I was going to say the bitch implied Jasmine was sleeping with my dad. It just wasn’t dad’s style. “She made claims that Jasmine and the old boss were working together. And she just had to do it, in my office, at a time when Jasmine hadn't arrived.”

“But even if she did do it, she probably won’t just come clean about it,” Julius pointed out.

“I know that,” I said with a nod. “But, that’s why you are going to help me create a trap for her. You told me before that you had friends in other departments.”

His eyes lit up as he chuckled. “Oh, I’ve got plenty of friends in this company. Just tell me what you need.”

“So, here’s the plan…”

"First of all, we needed to monitor her. Julius was the one to talk to the security team, and they offered to bug her office and monitor her computer. She didn’t usually arrive until around nine or later on most days, and lucky for the plan, she decided to be late that day. Everything was set up by the time she made it to her office.

I sat in my office and received updates of everything going on through my connection to security on my computer system. When she left her office to make rounds on her lower floors, I put a call to Julius.

“I need you to spread a rumor. I don’t know how you’ll do it, but I need it done quickly.”

After all, just monitoring her wasn’t enough. I didn’t plan for it to be a long vigil; if she had it out for Jasmine, then all we had to do to get her taking action, was to make her believe Jasmine didn’t take the fall—and more, the FBI found new evidence and a new suspect.

“You can have your secretary help you. I want this spread around in an a couple hours, though less would be good. Spread a rumor that Jasmine was released from prison and cleared of all charges. She’s coming in to work.”

“Hmm,” Julius murmured. “That would be easy enough. I can get right on it, but don’t you think we might need more?”

I arched an eyebrow, interested. I was starting to think that Julius Quells enjoyed all the cloak and dagger more than he’d let on.

“Why don’t we add that… the Feds have a new lead? Or rather, they released Jasmine because they found the real culprit. They could be en route to the company to make an arrest.”

I rubbed my thumb against my lower lip. “You know,” I said slowly. “That isn’t half bad. If you think you can run the story so it seems natural, then by all means, go wild.”

He chuckled. “The only problem we have now, is what happened once the news leaves my office. You know how these things go, the story’s going to change and who knows what it’s going to turn into.”

“It’s a risk we’ll have to take,” I said, frowning to myself. “As long as Jasmine being free and coming back, and the FBI on their way here doesn’t change too much, it would have to do.”

I cut off the call and occupied myself with work as I waited. I’d decided on not calling for a replacement secretary just yet, it was actually part of the plan. Marianne hadn't stopped by my office ever since that one day, but I didn’t need her to come back again.

Everything took some time. Over an hour later, there was a notification on my computer from security. Marianne was finally back in her office. More than that, she was accessing her computer, and the activity was somewhat abnormal. I had them keep track of it all.

I got a call from Julius. “I just got the news.”

“Yeah. Whatever she’s doing right now, as long as she implicates herself somehow, we’re in the clear. I don’t know what files she’s accessing. We might have to wait until she’s done to know. But just in case, talk to the IT department would you?”

“Of course. I’ll get right on it.”

We got off the phone, and I leaned back in my chair. I was no longer in the mood to work, so all I could do was wait to see the results of our little exercise. I at least hoped I would have something to give to Jasmine.

She wasn’t far from my mind, but I knew she wasn’t happy with me currently, either. Hopefully, getting her in the clear with the feds would be enough to earn me her forgiveness.