Chapter 130 The Missing Funds

Chapter 130 The Missing Funds
Knox

I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her and feeling the tension in her body as she lets out a sharp, terrified scream. Without thinking, I cover her mouth, spinning her around so she’s facing me. The water splashes around us, and her eyes widen when she sees it’s me.

She smacks my shoulder a few times, and I let go of her mouth, laughing from deep in my chest. The sound bounces off the still water, filling the space between us.

“You scared me!” she says, her face scrunched up in a frown that only makes her look even more adorable under the dim outdoor lights.

I stop laughing as I swim closer to her, feeling the cool water move around us, calming my body and mind.

“How long have you been in here?” she asks, catching her breath, her hand pressing against her chest like she’s trying to steady her heartbeat.

I wipe the water from my face and grin at her, teasing. “Long enough to scare you properly.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, pouting in mock annoyance. “You almost gave me a heart attack, Knox.”

I pull her in again, and she pretends to resist, pushing against me with both hands, but I hold her close, not letting go. I kiss her softly on the cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin despite the cool water around us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Her glare fades, and she rests her wet hands on my chest. The droplets of water feel refreshing against my skin. “Don’t do that again,” she says, her voice lighter now, teasing, though there’s a slight tremble under her words.

“As you wish,” I whisper, brushing my thumb along her jawline.

She glances toward the house, the large glass doors reflecting the sunlight. “I saw Mom leave earlier. Where did she go?”

My expression hardens for a second. The last thing I want to talk about right now is Gina. Not when Emma’s finally in my arms, looking at me like I’m the only thing that matters. “She’s been ignoring me. She left with a packed bag. Things aren’t great between us anymore.”

Emma goes quiet, her eyes dropping to the water, her mind clearly racing. The silence stretches between us, broken only by the soft splash of water against the pool’s edge. After a long pause, she asks, “Does that mean you’re getting a divorce?”

I slide my hand around her waist, feeling her warmth as I gaze down at her lips for a moment, letting my eyes linger there before meeting her eyes again. “What do you want, Emma?”

Confusion flickers across her face, raw and unguarded. “I… I don’t understand.”

“Do you want me to divorce her?”

She laughs nervously and playfully slaps my chest, the sound wet and soft. “Come on, Knox. I can’t decide that for you. I love you, but—”

She stops abruptly, her words hanging in the air, unfinished.

My heart thunders in my chest, my throat tightening. “What did you just say? You love me?”

She looks away, her face turning red in the dim light.

“I… uhm… I should go back inside,” she murmurs, trying to swim away, but I catch her arm gently and pull her back toward me.

The water splashes as she lightly hits my chest again. I lean down, my eyes locking with hers, my breath mixing with hers in the small space between us. My lips hover so close to hers, I can almost taste her.

“Say it, Emma,” I whisper, my voice low and rough with everything I’ve been holding back. “Do you love me?”

She shakes her head slowly, but there’s no real conviction behind it. “Knox… I know we’re just having fun and—”

“I love you too, Emma,” I cut in, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “I’ve loved you for longer than I even realized. I want you with me every single day.”

Tears shine in her eyes, glowing under the pool lights. “Are you sure?”

I pull her into a tight hug, my heart racing in my chest. “Yes. I love you.”

She pulls back just enough to look at me, her gaze searching. “But you’re still with my mom.”

“We’re getting a divorce. We can’t stand each other anymore.”

Sadness clouds her expression, her face tightening with regret. “I feel like this is my fault.”

I shake my head firmly, cupping her face in my hands. “It’s not. Your mom and I haven’t been right for a long time. It’s you I want, Emma. Only you.”

Before she can say anything more, I kiss her deeply. Her lips part for me, soft and eager. She kisses me back with the same hunger, both of us feeling something undeniable between us.

The kiss deepens, urgent, desperate. I lift her easily, and she wraps her legs around my waist. Water spills off us as I carry her up the steps and out of the pool. She holds on tight, her face pressed against my neck, her breath warm against my skin.

I walk through the quiet house with her in my arms. Each step feels heavy, full of promise, of everything we’ve been too afraid to say until now. When we reach my bedroom, I nudge the door open with my shoulder and lower her onto the bed. The sheets are cool against her wet skin, and she shivers slightly as the air brushes against her.

I lean over her, gently pushing her damp hair away from her face. “I love you,” I say again, needing her to feel the truth in every word.

She reaches up and pulls me down. Our mouths collide, desperate and tender all at once. My hands roam, exploring her with a mix of urgency and tenderness. I slowly pull her swimsuit off, inch by inch, memorizing every curve, every soft line. She helps me out of mine, never breaking eye contact, her gaze steady and unwavering.

When we’re finally naked, I settle over her. I enter her slowly, watching her face, wanting to feel every second of this moment. She gasps softly, her fingers digging into my shoulders. We find a rhythm that builds slowly, then faster, our bodies moving together like they’ve always known what the other needs.

Pleasure coils tightly in me. Her breaths turn to quiet moans against my ear. I kiss her neck, her collarbone, whispering how much I love her with every touch. 

When she comes undone beneath me, crying my name in a broken whisper, it sends me over the edge too. The release hits hard, and I bury my face in her neck, holding her close as we tremble together.

Afterward, we lie tangled in the sheets. I pull her against my chest, running my fingers softly over her back until her breathing evens out. She falls asleep first, safe and warm in my arms. I watch her for a long time, feeling a peace I haven’t known in months. Eventually, sleep takes me too.

Later, I wake in the dark room, the moonlight spilling through the curtains. Emma sleeps soundly beside me, her hand resting on my chest, her fingers curled slightly. I smile softly and slip out of bed without waking her.

I grab my laptop from the nightstand and settle back to the bed. I open the company financials to review the monthly records, something I always do when my mind won’t rest.

At first, everything seems normal. But then I notice something was off. Certain expenses are inflated, with no matching documentation. I pull up the detailed transaction history and scroll slowly.

One transfer stands out immediately. A huge amount, far too large to be accidental, moved to an unfamiliar account. No approval chain or explanation.

My stomach drops. I refresh the page, check the date, and trace the account number again and again. Yet nothing. The money is gone, without a trace.

Shock freezes me in place. Questions flood my mind. Who did this? Someone on the inside? Or someone using direct access?