I arch an eyebrow at him. “You didn’t realize I work here? At my own company?”
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Thurman.” Taylor anxiously tugs at the hem of her skirt, which has ridden way up during whatever it was she was doing with Graham. “I… I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t worry about it.” I wave a hand at her. “Also, you’re fired, Taylor. Clean out your desk right now.”
Immediately, Graham’s twenty-two-year-old secretary’s eyes fill with tears. “But, Mrs. Thurman—”
“Get out now.” I give her a look that is not to be argued with. “You’ve got twenty minutes and then I call security.”
I hear the words come out of my mouth, but it’s like I’m not in control of them. It’s like this scene playing out before me has already happened, and I’m simply reliving it. Which makes me impressed by how badass I am.
Taylor hurries out of the office, tears streaming down her cheeks. Once she’s gone, I set my gaze back on Graham, who looks distinctly pale. He is redoing the top button on his shirt and straightening out his tie. It occurs to me that if I had to come to this office just a few minutes later, I could have ended up getting quite the show.
“It isn’t how it looked, Tess,” he says. “I swear to you.”
A jab of pain hits me in the right temple. “You mean you making out with your secretary in your office?”
“Um…”
“Don’t worry, Graham. I don’t care about that.”
His brow crinkles. “You…”
I shrug. “We haven’t had sex in six months. It’s not like it’s a huge shock that you’re messing around behind my back.”
Now he looks perplexed. And for a moment, I enjoy it. I enjoy the split second of anticipation before I drop the bomb on him. He thought he could pull one over on me. Does he think I’m stupid?
“I found the bank account,” I tell him. “The Caribbean one. I found out what you’ve been up to, Graham. You piece of shit.”
His mouth falls open. “Tess…”
“I want you out of here.” I put my hands on my hips. “I want you to pack up your desk and get out of my company.”
“Come on, Tess.” He holds his hands out to me. “You don’t want to do that. I’ve been with this company for over six years. You’re never going to find a better accountant than me.”
A better accountant than him? Is he joking? Anyone would be better! At least, anyone who isn’t stealing money from me. I get another jab of pain in my temple—time to wrap this up.
“I’ve locked you out of all the computers,” I say briskly. “I alerted security, and if you’re not gone in the next half hour, they’re throwing you out.”
It finally hits him that I’m serious. “Tess. Please…”
“I also want you out of my house.” I feel the sneer on my lips. “I had Jeanne pack up your bags and I left them on the front porch.”
He sucks in a breath. “Tess…”
“Don’t.” I shake my head. “You’re lucky I didn’tburnyour crap. I never want to look at you ever again. You’re going to hear from my lawyers shortly. If you don’t sign the divorce papers immediately, I’m calling the police and pressing charges.”
All the color has drained from Graham’s face. “Please don’t do this, Tess. Look, this was all a misunderstanding.”
It takes all my self-restraint not to laugh in his face. “I’ve got a meeting downtown right now. When I get back, you better be gone.”
I don’t wait for a response. I’ve said everything I have to say. It feels awful enough to know that my own husband did this to me. And if I hadn’t hired a second accountant, I might never have known. He might have kept siphoning money out of the company as my punishment for making him sign that prenup. And when he got enough money in the account, then what? Would he have saved it as a nest egg just in case, orwould he have up and left me for somebody like Taylor?
Luckily, I’ll never get to know.
I’m already running late for my meeting. I take the elevator down to the parking garage, and the valet brings me my Toyota. I was never interested in getting a sports car like Graham has. But maybe now I’ll treat myself to something better. Something fast and cute.
Although the Toyota goes plenty fast.
