New Year's Eve surprise, part 4

Part 4 for Wednesday's Gather Writing Essential.

The plot hatches

Sheryl ran her manicured fingernail along the tomes in Evan’s office. How brilliant she had been! Soon, she would get what she deserved. That thought brought a smile to her face.

Footsteps came from behind her, she spun to face the person thinking she would get a scolding. Instead, the man standing before her made her heart jump.
“Steven!”

Steven sauntered forward all charm and sophistication. His three piece suit hugged him to perfection. The way he smiled always melted her insides to the point she could barely think or breathe.
He pulled her in his arms for a quick hug.
“Has it been done?”

Sheryl nodded. Mischievousness written on her features. “I love when a plan comes to fruition. How are things on your end?”

“Just perfect. She saw me, you know?”

“Who?”

Of course, he just laughed. “Gracie, darling. We had a very brief chat.”

She stiffened. “About what? You’re not going back to her are you?”

His eyes grew soft, her heart did a little flop. “Why would you ask me such a thing? You know that I would never do that. She was just a minor bump in the road.”
Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips. “You know it is you who warms my heart. It has always been this way.”

“Do you truly understand that everything has to go off without a hitch? I can’t have you going and falling for that slut. Everything we’ve done, can and will not be undone. Everything has been arranged and is flawless. I won’t have you ruining things.”

A tiny bit of coldness from him made her shiver as he grasped her elbow bringing her nose to nose with him. “Is that a threat? Because I might just find myself feeling sorry for her after all.”

Her throat worked as she swallowed. Tiny tremors ran through her. “Now don’t be hasty! I was just making sure that we’re still on the same page. We are going through with this, aren’t we? I want what is rightfully mine. And, I will do anything to get it.”

“As do I.” Letting go of her, Steven stomped over to the desk. She watched as he deftly entered Evan’s computer, typed a few keys and he did his worst.

“Now, no one will ever question her again. As far as everyone is concerned, Gracie is guilty. Satisfied now?”

“That’s why you’re here in the first place. Doing the job you should have done weeks earlier.  It’s a dreadful shame that you got yourself fired. But, luckily Evan seemed very distracted this evening. And, you’re finally doing what I paid you for.”

“What’s your problem with her anyway?”

Sheryl shook her head at him. “Don’t go soft on me. That’s none of your business. You’re going to get your pay check, and that’s all you need to know. I wish you hadn’t gone and screwed her though.”

“I would have been highly suspicious in the course of our relationship if I had not. It was strictly business as you pointed out.”

Sheryl gasped as he pressed her against him. No more words were said after that as he showed her just how much he adored her.

Steven had just left when Pete came in to the office a question in his eyes. “What are you doing in here?”

Sheryl shrugged. “I was just seeing what great taste Mr. Pierce has. And just wandering mainly. I grew bored that is all.”

Pete’s stare unnerved her a bit. He cocked his head. “Are you planning on working, at party no less?”

“Oh, you caught me! I was just thinking that work would be more exciting than the party out there. No offense to Mr. Pierce but his bashes can be a bit dry if you know what I mean.”

He chuckled. “Come on back out here. I can think of something you can do.”

“Why Pete, are you flirting with me? There are sexual harassment laws you know?” She waggled her eyebrows, giggling.

Pete shook his head in mock sadness. “Oh dear, shall I get a lawyer then?”

She stood in front of him. “You know how much I admire you. If it hadn’t been for you… Well, I don’t think anyone else would take me seriously.”

“It’s nothing truly. I know how brilliant you are. We went to college together. Or have you forgot?”

Standing on tiptoe, she lightly brushed her lips against his. “I will never forget Pete. Never.”

His heart sped up under her fingertips, his breath harsh. “I can’t seem to stop wanting you.”

Pressing her chest against his, she wiggled. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I promise.”

She closed her eyes as he kissed her hungrily. Men were so easy, she thought a smile tugging at her lips.
.                   .                    .

Gracie dug into her purse trying to find the some little white pills to cure her headache. Her temples pounded as she searched through tons of receipts, make up and all sorts of loose change. She gave a little, grr of frustration, dumping the contents of her hand bag on the bar table.

She just put her hands on the pain reliever when her arm was practically wrenched from her socket. Shock and a bit of pain radiated along her biceps.
Evan’s face reminded her of a thunder cloud as she dragged her away and towed her out of the room.

“Good lord, what are you doing?”

He refused to answer towing her toward his office. Silence reigned as he pushed her in, slamming the door behind him. Immediately, her hands went to her head.

“Ouch!”

“When I’m done with you, you’re going to wish that a headache was all you had.”

Gracie stared dumbfounded. “What are you speaking of?”

Evan’s chest heaved, his face grew hot. “Are you seriously going to deny what you’ve done? Do I have to drag it out of you? How could you do this to me?”

That was rich! First Evan flirted with that blond bimbo. Then, she went and got drunk, and now she had the worst headache ever. Evan's accusations made no sense.

“Do what to you?” Her voice echoed loudly.

Her eyes widened as he stormed past her taking out all the files for the Benson project she had completed last year. He dumped them all on the desk before her.
“Look! And, tell me what you see.”

Gracie grabbed the file on the top, opening it to the first page. Her hands shook uncontrollably. She scanned the document finding nothing out of the ordinary. Daring to look at his face, she intoned. “I don’t see anything.”

Evan came to her side flipping the pages until he came to the page where all the figures were calculated. “Look again! And, this time, I don’t want any stalling.”

Doing as he bade, she felt truly afraid of Evan for the first time. He seemed to have lost his mind. The columns blurred as she read the facts and figures. Nothing appeared to be wrong. She almost gave up, when one figure glared out at her. The amount did not quite add up properly.

Her head jerked up, staring at him. "Oh my god!"

"You didn't think that I would find out. That you could just hide this and do what exactly? Just disappear when the right time came?"

His works shocked her into dropping the files to the floor, the echo seemed louder this time. "You think I would do something like this on purpose? The figures... I checked twice, three times even. I don't know how this happened."

Evan stared at Gracie seeing her features for the first time since they walked in the room. Her whole body shook. Horror, shock, anger and pain all crossed her features. Either Gracie was a wonderful actress or…

Maybe he had thought the wrong thing about her.

But, how else to explain it? Her signature was on every single document. She and she alone had gone over the files. She should have caught the mistake. His own head began to pound as he tried hard to believe her.

“Gracie.”
He said her name, she faced him once more.
“Those figures on that page are wrong. And, therefore, it makes every one wrong. wrong. Do you understand what this means?”

Gracie stood up ramrod straight her hands clenched at her sides. “That means that.. The company will have every right to sue us for fraud."

His heart clenched. “Can you prove this was no accident? Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

“I can’t believe you would say this to me! Just this evening you were proclaiming that I was the best at what I do. I swear on all that is holy that I checked those facts! I’m not a thief. Why would I do this? It would ruin my career. Something I worked years on. Something I love with all my heart. And, you of all people. Why wouldn’t you believe in me?”

Evan truly felt like his heart would break in two. Never had her seen her so desperate. He had to do something but he did not know what. “I..”
Tears came to her eyes and he hated himself.

“Gracie, you are responsible and you know this. I don’t have much choice. I think you should clean out your desk. And, don’t come back after the new year. I’m sorry.”

Gracie held her tears at bay with a Herculean effort. “Are you firing me?”

Evan heard her whisper the words. Where she shook on the outside, his insides felt like jelly. “Call it an unpaid leave. I have to check with my lawyer and accountant. I have to check all the files…
And, I have to cross reference the information with what I have in the computer. Until then…
I just can’t have you here. You understand?”

Fire leaped into her eyes as she yelled, “You don’t have to fire me. I quit.”

She ran out of the office before he could find the words that would make her come back. Instead, his body sunk into the chair, his head slumped into his hands as he lost his tenuous control. For the first time since grade school, he cried.

If you have missed the first three, here are the links:

New Year's Eve surprise, part 1

New Year's Eve surprise, part 2

New Year's Eve surprise, part 3

Part 5 hopefully coming next Wednesday.