Chapter 42 The Accusations
Melissa’s POV
I couldn’t catch my breath.
My body still hummed with aftershocks as I stood in Gavin’s private bathroom, gripping the marble counter for support. The toy had stopped vibrating…finally…but my nerves were shot from anticipation. From not knowing when he’d turn it back on.
I cleaned myself up quickly, fixed my ponytail, reapplied my lipstick. My reflection looked almost normal. Almost.
The walk to the conference room felt surreal. Each step was steady, controlled, but underneath I was acutely aware of what was inside me. Of what Gavin could do with a single press of a button hidden in his pocket.
The conference room was already half full when I arrived. Marcus sat near the head of the table, reviewing something on his tablet. Sarah from PR was chatting with a few department heads. And Cassandra, I’d heard some people call her…sat perfectly poised in her navy dress, her expression serene.
I took a seat and opened my notebook, determined to appear professional.
Then Gavin walked in.
The room fell silent.
He moved with that quiet authority that made everyone straighten in their chairs. His suit was immaculate, his expression carved from stone. He looked like power incarnate…nothing like the man who’d just had me spread across his desk.
He sat at the head of the table without glancing my way. “Let’s begin. Sarah?”
Sarah started her presentation on the charity gala. I took notes, contributed when asked, kept my face neutral.
Twenty minutes passed. Thirty. The toy stayed silent.
But the anticipation was worse than the vibration had been. My body was on high alert, waiting, wondering when he’d press that button again. Every time he shifted in his seat, every time his hand moved near his pocket, my heart stuttered.
It was torture. Delicious, maddening torture.
Then Cassandra stood.
“Before we adjourn,” she said smoothly, “there’s a matter that requires immediate attention.”
Gavin looked up from his laptop. “What matter?”
“It concerns financial discrepancies in the media department.” She pulled out a manila folder and opened it with practiced precision. “Specifically, falsified expense reports submitted by Miss Melissa Hart.”
The room went dead silent.
My stomach dropped so fast I thought I might be sick.
“Excuse me?” My voice came out steadier than I felt.
Cassandra slid several documents across the table toward Gavin. “Over the past three weeks, Miss Hart has submitted expense claims totaling forty-seven thousand dollars. Equipment purchases, software licenses, client entertainment expenses.” She paused, her expression sympathetic. “All of them fraudulent.”
“That’s not true.” I stood, my chair scraping loudly. “I submitted legitimate expenses…”
“These vendors don’t exist, Melissa.” Cassandra pulled out more papers. “This software company? Dissolved two years ago. This equipment supplier? No record of any transaction with our organization. The restaurant charges? On dates when no client meetings were scheduled.”
My hands shook. “Someone must have given me false information…”
“We pulled your email records. No such communications exist.” Cassandra’s voice was gentle, almost pitying. “However, we did find these invoices saved on your personal computer. With your digital authorization.”
“I didn’t authorize anything!” My voice rose, drawing shocked looks from around the table. “I don’t know how those files got on my computer…”
“You’re saying someone hacked your system? Used your credentials? Forged your signature on multiple documents over a three-week period without you noticing?” Cassandra tilted her head. “That seems unlikely.”
“I’m telling you, I didn’t do this!”
“The evidence suggests otherwise.” She turned to Gavin, her expression grave. “Sir, given the severity of this situation, I’ve already contacted our legal department. They’re recommending we involve law enforcement. This level of embezzlement…”
“Embezzlement?” The word hit me like a physical blow. “You think I stole money?”
“Forty-seven thousand dollars, to be exact.” Cassandra’s tone was maddeningly calm. “I understand you’re new to corporate environments, Melissa. Perhaps you didn’t realize how seriously we take financial fraud…”
“I didn’t commit fraud!”
“Then how do you explain the discrepancies?”
“I can’t!” Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “But I didn’t do this. Someone is setting me up…”
Sarah stood abruptly. “This is insane. Melissa wouldn’t…”
“Sarah, please.” Cassandra’s voice was firm but not unkind. “I know she’s your colleague, but the evidence is clear. We have documentation, digital trails, her signature on every fraudulent claim…”
“My signature was forged!”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know!”
Cassandra turned to the rest of the table. “I know this is uncomfortable, but we have a legal obligation to pursue this. The company could face serious liability if we don’t address embezzlement immediately.”
Someone at the far end of the table spoke up…one of the senior department heads I didn’t know well. “What’s the recommended course of action?”
“Immediate suspension pending investigation,” Cassandra said. “And yes, given the amount involved, criminal charges.”
The room erupted in murmurs.
I looked at Gavin, desperate for him to say something. Anything.
His expression was completely neutral. Unreadable. He sat perfectly still, his eyes on the documents Cassandra had laid out, his jaw tight.
He looked like he was considering it. Like he actually believed I could have done this.
“Gavin…” My voice broke. “Mr. Cross, please. I swear on everything, I didn’t do this.”
He didn’t look at me. “Cassandra, these are serious allegations.”
“I’m aware, sir. That’s why I’ve documented everything.” She gestured to the folder. “The evidence is irrefutable.”
“Evidence can be manufactured,” Sarah interjected. “This is all circumstantial…”
“Her digital signature is on every document. Her computer was used to create the false invoices. The money was claimed under her authorization code.” Cassandra’s voice hardened slightly. “What more do you need?”
Marcus cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should let IT conduct a full forensic analysis before jumping to conclusions…”
“I’ve already ordered one.” Cassandra pulled out another document. “Their preliminary findings confirm the files originated from Miss Hart’s workstation. No evidence of external access or system compromise.”
My legs went weak. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be real.
“Someone had to have accessed my computer,” I said desperately. “I leave it unlocked sometimes when I go to meetings…”
“So you’re admitting to a security breach?” Cassandra’s eyebrow arched.
“No! I’m saying someone could have…”
“Could have what? Repeatedly accessed your computer, created dozens of fraudulent documents, submitted them under your name, and you never noticed?” Cassandra shook her head. “Melissa, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.”
I turned to Gavin again, my vision blurring with unshed tears. “Please. You know me. You know I wouldn’t do this.”
Finally, finally, his eyes met mine.
They were cold. Distant. The eyes of a CEO, not the man who’d whispered Italian endearments against my skin just an hour ago.
“What I know,” he said quietly, “is that we have a legal obligation to investigate any allegations of financial misconduct.”
The words hit me like a slap.
Before I could respond, one of the department heads stood…a woman I vaguely recognized from accounting.
“This is a disgrace,” she said, her voice sharp. “I’ve worked here for fifteen years and never seen such blatant theft…”
She moved around the table toward me, her face flushed with anger.
“You walked in here with your short skirts and your…”
Her hand came up.
The slap cracked across my face so hard my head snapped to the side.
The room erupted.
“That’s enough!” Marcus was on his feet. “Everyone calm down…”
But the damage was done.
I stood there, my cheek burning, tears finally spilling down my face, while everyone stared at me like I was a criminal.
Like I was guilty.
Gavin still sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable, saying nothing.
And I realized with crushing clarity that I was completely, utterly alone.