“You’ll never guess who is on the list of independent auditors approved by Tipping Point.”
I didn’t want to play a guessing game. “Who?”
“Nina Wilkins!” She beamed. “Isn’t that yourhomegirl?”
Something in the way she said that made me cringe on the inside. Maybe Nina was right about her too. She’d warned me about Chelsea, but I thought it was petty jealousy and partly, Chelsea being childish with her crush on me. Perhaps there was something more she saw in my employee than I did.
My silence, and lack of enthusiasm, forced her to clear her throat and backtrack, “I mean. Nina can get this done immediately, right? That is, if she has the manpower to get it done.”
“I’ll discuss it with her. In the meantime, talk to the other companies on the list. Get a quote and turnaround time for the work we need. I want this deal wrapped up or tossed out by the end of next month.”
Chelsea sulked, “You don’t seem too excited about buying it anymore.”
“These little things that keep popping up can turn into very big headaches. I’m thinking I moved too fast trying to buy that business. Fortunately, after the audit is done, I’ll have the option to back out of it.”
“Wait, Tipping Point is counting on our influx of cash to help settle their legal obligations to their clients.”
I shrugged, “It wasn’t my problem before I bought them out and if I back out of the deal, it won’t be my problem afterward. I’ll pay the termination of sale fines and fees, but that’s it. Get on the rest of that list. Anyone who bids under our budget, put their information to the side. I’ll need a few days to talk to Nina, but I’m sure she won’t take the job.”
“Because of her lack of employees?” Chelsea volunteered, almost cheerfully.
“No, because of the obvious conflict of interest. Thanks, that will be all for now, Chelsea.” I dismissed her yet again. This time, she didn’t hide her disappointment as she huffed and puffed and made her way out of my office. I knew she wanted to say something, but I didn’t care. The more she spoke, the more Nina made sense. There was a side of Chelsea showing itself, and I didn’t like it.
Chapter 17
Nina
There were about a dozen different folders and files stacked around me as I sat at a conference table in the Wilhelm Institute of Technology offices. Each pile belonged to a different professor or member of the staff. Over the next few weeks, they would all bring me their tax documents, receipts, expenses, and anything else tax-related. They were a bit early for the tax season, but the reports I put together helped the Institute’s plan for the next year’s budget.
All in all, I was busy.
I worked in that conference room from seven in the morning until seven at night. The main issue was my cell phone had terrible reception inside the building. Once I’d left, there were a few missed calls and text messages. Most were from clients, and a few were from Morgan and Dylan. There were two from Colt, so I played his first:
Nina, I just want to talk to you. I can be an ass sometimes, stuck in my ways and I’d rather say this to you than to your voicemail. Call me back, please.
The second one played right after:
Nina, did I tell you how much of an ass I could be? I know you’re busy at work and I haven’t been the most available person either. Let me make this up to you.
Both of our jobs had our schedules working against one another. It made me wonder if it was always going to be like this. Would we continually miss each other? Maybe the relationship had reached its cooling point.
When I returned his call, it went straight to his voicemail. I sighed as I left him a message. “Hey, Colt. I’m on my way home and should be there in about an hour. If you’re free, you can swing by.”
I wanted to talk to Colt. I missed him. I missed the way he made me feel. I missed our conversations. When I arrived at my building slightly before eight, my mind was in the throes of several imaginary situations where Colt came up to my condo. He’d apologize to me. I’d apologize to him, and then we’d spend the evening making up for lost time. However, he’d yet to reply to my voicemail. Not a single call or text message came through since I left the building.
When I got to my door there was a large bouquet of flowers. Perhaps this was Colt’s reply to my voicemail. I went to pick it up and saw the masterpiece wrapped in cellophane.
I wrapped my arms around the base of the arrangement and brought it inside with me. I sat it down on my kitchen table before I got comfortable, slipping out of the clothes I’d been wearing all day.
The shower ran for about ten minutes before I heard my front entrance app ring, I swipe to open without paying attention, knowing it must be Colt. I didn’t want to give Colt the wrong idea- I wanted him desperately, but we needed to talk first. I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, hoping it wouldn’t distract him from the much-needed discussion ahead of us.
When I looked through the peephole, another large bouquet of roses stared back at me. A smile graced my face as I pulled open the door.
“Colt, you didn’t have to do this!” I squealed. But when the odor of faint nicotine hit me, horror froze me in place.
Ray Lansing dropped the bouquet of roses as he pushed his way into my condo. I tripped over my own foot and stumbled backwards. I landed on the carpeted floor with a thud, but I tried to push myself away.
“Get out!” I yelled at him.
