“Nicely played,” Josh assesses. “Sounds like you have your hands full. I’ll send you my parents’ gifts.”
“You can count on me,” I assure him right before he hangs up. “Always.”
Chapter Thirty
It’s been a week since the confrontation with Derrick. I thought for sure he would have made his move by now, but Audrey has continued to come in every day talking about her wedding. I don’t know what could have gone wrong. I’m absolutely positive Derrick received the picture I sent by e-mail. What other proof do I need to make him come clean?
Even if he hasn’t told Audrey, I just don’t have the stomach to work on the wedding today. I’ve been keeping up with the charade all week, and I can’t bear to look at her excited face one more time. When I think of all the money we’ve already spent on this wedding—the dress, the florist, the food—what’s going to become of it all? And what about Audrey? The girl is finally starting to get a little self-esteem, and now this? I shudder to think about the meltdown she will have.
Instead, I’ll work on my new project today. We’ve partnered with the fire department for their annual Christmas toy drive, and Cooper even voluntarily donated a large sum of money from the company. To say I was shocked would be the understatement of the century, but maybe he has seen the positive outcome of the work we’ve been doing lately. When the community begins to think you’re a great company, only good things can follow, right?
We’ve been getting a lot of positive publicity lately, and Katie told me they were getting more applicants than usual for open positions. It makes sense, really—people want to work for a company that cares about the community. It logically follows that, if the company cares about strangers, it has to care even more about its employees. I’m not sure that’s true about Cooper Corporate Financial, but perhaps it will be some day.
If I tell Audrey I’m working on the project today, surely she’ll understand. There’s nothing pressing that we need to deal with on the wedding, so if I can buy a little time until Derrick finally breaks the news, maybe we won’t spend any more money needlessly on something that isn’t going to happen.
Walking out of the door to my office, my eyes rest upon Dina’s vacant desk. She’s on vacation today, lucky woman. I would like to take some vacation time, but I’m sure Audrey would convince Cooper that she needs me too much to allow me to be gone. Just a little more time, and then maybe I can get away for a while.
“Audrey,” I say, knocking on her door once before poking my head inside to find her sitting at her desk, reading one of those Hollywood gossip magazines. “Audrey, I think I’m going to work on the toy drive today, if you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine,” she states, not looking up. “I’m not sure I want you working on my wedding anymore, anyway.”
“Is something wrong?” I ask, stepping inside the door. She flips another page of her magazine and continues to look down.
“Have you been e-mailing Derrick?”
E-mailing Derrick? Of course not! Only that one time, and that was just for the picture.
“I sent him one e-mail, about the wedding,” I respond quietly, hoping no one is in the hallway to overhear our conversation. It was about the wedding—calling it off, to be precise.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about pretending anymore,” Audrey states, angrily flipping another page of her magazine. “I know about everything…how my dad pays you to pretend to be my friend, and how someone like you would never stoop to being friends with someone like me. I should have known all along. I guess I just hoped it wasn’t true.”
“That’s not true, Audrey,” I attempt. “Not one single word of it. I don’t know who’s telling you that, but they don’t—”
“You know, it’s one thing if you don’t care about me, but do you have to try to steal my fiancé, too? You’ve got everything. Why do you want to ruin my life?”
“What are you talking about, stealing your fiancé? I want nothing to do with your fiancé. In fact, I—”
“Where were you last night, Maddie?” she interrupts, finally looking up at me with blazing eyes.
“Last night?” I mutter. “I was at home, of course.”
“You weren’t at Derrick’s house?” she asks, eyes narrowing.
“Of course not!” Audrey reaches into her purse, pulls something out, and casually flips it toward me. I watch as it lands on the ground face down, and I bend to pick it up.
What? How did she…
“If you weren’t at Derrick’s house, tell me how that wound up on his coffee table.”
My driver’s license? I have no idea. Did he break into my house and steal it, or come into the office and take it? There’s no other way he could have…
The club! That’s it! He must have taken it out of my wallet before he returned it to me. I knew I didn’t drop my wallet! He took it with the express purpose of stealing something that belonged to me. I was there to catch him in his lies, and he set me up. No wonder he hasn’t bothered to break it off with Audrey. He thinks he has me cornered.
“Audrey, this is not what you think. Let me explain.”
“Don’t bother,” she adds with a glare, returning to her magazine. “I’m not in a talking mood. Just go play Miss Important with your toy drive and leave me alone.”
Backing out of Audrey’s office, I close the door quietly. How could this have happened? All I was doing was trying to be a good friend, and the entire thing backfired in my face. Derrick’s going to get away with it, too! Audrey’s going to go right ahead with her wedding plans, believing that I tried to steal her fiancé, and they will be married in a few months. How long will he keep up the façade, until he finally breaks away and leaves Audrey broken-hearted? Months? Years? Poor Audrey will never even see it coming.
Maybe I should talk to Cooper. Wait a second—what if she already told Cooper? What if Audrey showed him the driver’s license this morning, and he believes I was at Derrick’s house, too? He could be having the paperwork drawn up as we speak to have me terminated by lunch time. But then he wouldn’t be able to have his tennis tournament. What is more important to Cooper, his daughter’s happiness or his tennis revenge?
I don’t want to know the answer to that question—it is sick, sick, sick.
Walking back into my office, I sit and stare at the cellphone on my desk. Nothing would have happened if I hadn’t emailed that silly picture. Why did I have to do that in the first place? If I hadn’t sent him the picture, he wouldn’t have…
Wait a minute, though. He stole my license before he ever knew about the picture. He didn’t know I had proof. He was going to set me up anyway, just for catching him in the act. He must really think he has a lot to lose, if he’s willing to go to this much trouble to keep his act flowing smoothly. Who knows how much damage he’s already done! I can’t let him get away with it—I just can’t!
Walking to the adjoining door in my office, I knock once before I push it open. Cooper is sitting at his monstrous desk with his glasses on, reading through some papers. He looks up as I open the door and pulls his glasses off his face, setting them down in front of him.
“Maddie,” he says in surprise. “What is it?”
“There’s something very important I want to talk to you about,” I begin, attempting to sound normal. He motions for me to come forward. He doesn’t look angry, so perhaps Audrey didn’t tell him after all.
“It’s about Audrey’s fiancé,” I state. “There’s a problem with him.”
“Audrey never mentioned any problem with Derrick,” he counters, crossing his arms over his chest. Sitting down in one of the chairs, I take a deep breath.
“That’s because she doesn’t know.”
“Well, what is it? I’m sure it’s not something to be overly concerned about.”
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I drag up the picture of Derrick, holding it out for Cooper’s inspection. He takes the phone and glances at it momentarily before returning it to me
.
“What is that supposed to be?”
Come on, are you blind?
“That’s Derrick with another woman.”
“Well,” Cooper sighs, leaning back in his chair and placing his hands behind his head, “that could have been perfectly innocent. She might have been a client or something. I’m sure it’s nothing worth ruffling feathers about.”
That’s it? You don’t care that I have photographic evidence of your one and only daughter’s fiancé with another woman? You are the most callous, insensitive man on earth.
“But there’s more, sir,” I say, now becoming desperate for him to believe me. “He doesn’t love Audrey.”
Cooper laughs heartily and shakes his head. “Where would you come up with a crazy idea like that?”
“He told me, face to face. He’s marrying Audrey for you.”
“Why would he marry Audrey for me?” he asks with a smirk.
“For your money.” There. I said it. Maybe that will provoke a reaction.
Cooper removes his hands from his head and sits up in his chair, placing his elbows on his desk and leaning towards me. The entire look of his face changes, and his eyes narrow as he stares at me. He’s definitely not laughing anymore.
“Audrey can’t touch my money.”
“I told Derrick that he would never get your money.”
“And what did he say?” Cooper wants to know, staring at me intently with blazing eyes. I’m not entirely certain whether he’s angry with me or Derrick, but I hope for the best.
“He said that you’ve already given him plenty, and there will be a lot more where that came from.”
Cooper sits silently for a minute, as though he’s pondering the words, and then he leans back in his chair and smiles.
“Well, that’s ridiculous,” he states, shaking his head as though I’m a silly child. “I haven’t given him any money.”
Hasn’t given him any money? Well, then what was Derrick talking about? I distinctly remember him saying that Cooper had given him plenty already. Plenty of what? Cars, houses, boats, clothing? What do I say now?
“You’re absolutely certain you haven’t given him anything?” I ask, feeling a bit foolish. “No money has changed hands? You have never given him a check, or cash, or anything of the sort?”
“Of course I haven’t,” he counters firmly. “The only money exchanges we have ever made were on some investments he made for me. He’s an investment banker, you know. Occasionally we do business together.”
Investments and business deals? Could that have been what he was referencing?
“Mr. Cooper, I am never going to mention this to you again. I only hope you will believe me enough to do your own research. Derrick told me specifically that you had given him a lot of money, and that he was marrying your daughter for the express purpose of obtaining more money from you. I don’t pretend to know what he meant, but if the only money you gave him was through investments… Well, if I were you, I would do a little investigating to be sure they were sound.”
Standing up, I walk toward the door, part of me wishing I had never broached the topic at all. What did I accomplish in the end? Audrey hates me. Cooper didn’t take me seriously. Looks like my wedding planner days are over as quickly as they began.
“Maddie,” Cooper calls as I’m about to shut the door. Pausing in the entryway, I return my eyes to his office. “I hope you didn’t mention any of this nonsense to Audrey.”
“I didn’t,” I say quietly.
“Good,” he replies, placing his glasses on his face and going back to reading his papers.
Chapter Thirty-One
Brittany had her baby last night. Lance phoned a little while ago to tell me they had a girl, and she’s very healthy, and her name is Abigail. He also apologized for not phoning sooner, and told me things have been pretty hectic.
Naturally, I forgive him—he is a new dad, after all. I’m sure his life is pretty insane right now, trying to take care of the other kids and serving Brittany’s every need. The thing is, I can’t believe nobody bothered to tell me that she was in the hospital or that she was in labor. Nobody even thought to call and tell me that I had a niece. It’s almost as though they didn’t want me there.
Actually, I’m positive they didn’t want me there. They never do, really.
I am really dreading going over to Mom and Dad’s on Christmas Eve. I’m not sure what kind of holiday spirit I can rouse over there, the way they have been acting toward me lately. (Well, not Dad. He’s in my corner, at least.) And the gift exchange… I don’t know whose idea it was to start those, but I am not happy. I got Mr. Huber. I know exactly nothing about Mr. Huber, so how am I to be expected to choose an appropriate gift?
The other day, I finally purchased a gift certificate for a few rounds of golf at a country club. Does Mr. Huber play golf? How on earth would I know? He looks like the type of guy who would play golf. I know he doesn’t tinker around in his workshop like Dad. It was either that or a gift certificate to the tennis club, and that might have caused him to sprain or pull something. I certainly don’t want that on my conscience.
When Mom called to tell me about Christmas, she was short and to the point. I didn’t ask if she wanted me to bring anything. The way she and Brittany talked about the food I made at Thanksgiving, I seriously doubt anyone would eat anything I brought. I might not even stay for dinner. I do feel obligated to go to the gift exchange, though. If someone purchased a present for me, it would be really rude not to at least show up and exchange the gift.
I wonder who got my name. Probably Mr. Huber, who will get me a certificate to the tennis club, which would be a little funny, because Cooper has already paid for my membership. Well, at least it would be a nice gift, and I could re-gift it to someone who would appreciate it.
On a more positive note, people seem to be in good moods at the office today. In the elevator, one lady was humming Jingle Bells. Another woman had some kind of tinsel fixed in her hair. An older gentleman offered me some eggnog, which I turned down, of course. Never accept food or drinks from strangers—that’s a pretty standard motto of mine.
Dina was also happy this morning, probably because we’re going to have an extended weekend for the holiday. She gave me a gift box with hot chocolate and cinnamon sticks, which was really funny because I happened to get her the exact same thing. We must spend too much time together in the break room.
I also bought some fairly expensive lip gloss for Audrey from Tish at the spa. She told me it was supposed to plump up the lips or something like that. For what I paid, it should work some sort of miracle. I opened the door a crack this morning and slid it onto Audrey’s desk.
“Merry Christmas, Audrey,” I said, right before shutting the door. Since she hasn’t spoken to me yet, I figured I wouldn’t force her right before the holiday. When I came back to my office after using the restroom a little while later, the lip gloss was on the center of my desk.
I tried—I suppose that’s all I can do.
Ding-dong.
Cooper must have some last-minute shopping that he forgot to do. Probably another gift for Audrey. She would die if she knew I bought her Christmas presents. Sliding open the door between our offices, I mutter the obligatory phrase: “You rang?” Cooper gives me a tight smile and nods his head.
“Go ahead and come in, I want to talk to you for a minute.”
He’s not being his loud, boisterous self. Maybe he hasn’t had his raw eggs yet this morning. Perhaps he’s gearing up for the holiday, too.
“I thought a lot about what you told me the other day,” he begins as I sit down, “about Derrick. I know it took a lot of courage to come in here and tell me those things, and I appreciate that.”
“Thank you,” I reply quietly.
“Well, I took your advice, and I had someone look into Derrick’s investments. They were basically nonexistent. Exorbitant amounts of money spent on useless buildings that were worth way less than he expresse
d, and he’s been skimming off the extra money for himself. Audrey just happened to be caught in the middle—the only way he could get his foot in the door, so to speak.”
Poor Audrey. How could anyone do something so low?
“So, what happens now?” I wonder, rubbing my hands together in my lap.
He clears his throat and straightens in his chair. “Well, Derrick was arrested last night, so he can’t do any more damage.”
“But what about Audrey?” I can’t imagine finding out her fiancé was using her to get to her father’s money, and that he lied to her about everything—his intentions, his business trips, and his sources of income.
“Audrey doesn’t know yet. Derrick had already told her he was out of town for the next two days, so I’m trying to figure out a way to tell her myself.”
I sit there silently, staring at the floor and wishing I could help. If Audrey was speaking to me, maybe there would be something I could do. As it stands now, the only thing I can do is pray that she’ll be alright.
“Well, not the happiest topic to start the holiday,” Cooper states with a sigh, “but I thought you would want to know.”
“Yes, thanks for telling me.”
“You’ve done a lot for Audrey in the past few weeks. I don’t know exactly what’s happened, but her looks have improved a great deal. She’s been a lot happier, too, or at least she had been before this fiasco. I want you to have this. Merry Christmas.”
Cooper slides a Visa card across his desk toward me. I pick it up gingerly and hold it with both hands.
“Thank you,” I reply quickly, and he chuckles to himself.
“It’s not one of those with the endless limit, so don’t get your hopes up. I didn’t know what you would want, so that’s one of those gift cards you can use anywhere.”
“Well, like I said, thank you.”
Leaning back in his chair, he sighs and shakes his head. “You know, Maddie, you get to the point where I am and there are always people trying to take advantage. I just wish Audrey hadn’t gotten involved. And I wish we hadn’t even started with this wedding mess. What all have you purchased to this point?”
Simply Mad (Girls of Wonder Lane Book 1) Page 27
