Thirty-five

Zach didn't understand what he was seeing about his company finances, there is no way it should be as bad as that, even with the loss of his top-notch clients. Workers were not paid and the ones who were paid had their salaries slashed in half. What could have happened while he was gone?

"Hello," Maisie said as she breezed into Zach's office.

“Hey.” Zach replied his eyes still focused on the documents in front of him.

Maisie knew from Zach's wrinkled eyebrows and intense expression that something was going bad, and it was outside Zach's control. Instead of asking Zach what was wrong, she went to look at him over his shoulders. “What wrong with the finances?” Maisie asked when she couldn't make head or tail of what was written on the paper that Zach was looking through.

“It isn't adding up. It looks like a large amount was taken out of the company account and it was affecting the balance of the company.” Zach said as he dropped the document and used his hand to rub his eyebrows "Uh oh.” Maisie said under her breath, but Zach heard her. He turned his gaze from the document in front of him to his girlfriend who was biting her lower lip nervously.

“Whatever it is that you are contemplating telling me, I suggest you let it out.” Zach said as Maisie released a breath.

“Remember when I told you that you followed me to work and protected me when I dug too deeply into a case.?” Maisie asked Zach who nodded slowly.

“The case was against this firm.”

“What?” Zach exploded out of his seat in anger.

“Calm down.” Maisie said softly but Zach continued to pace around his office.

“Tell me everything.” Zach ordered and when Maisie glared at him, he added. “Please!”

When Maisie told him the story and how she closed the case without digging deeper, Zach was having a hard time trying to control his feelings through a breathing exercise.

“I need to get to the bottom of this right now.” Zach said as he picked up his phone.

“What are you doing?” Maisie asked keeping track of Zach's movements. She had never seen him like this, even when he is angry, he always has control of himself. This Zach standing before her was an irrational one.

“Calling the person who was supposed to keep a handle on this fucking issue while he was in charge.” Zach swore and Maisie cringed. If she were just another employee, she would have run the hell away from here, but he was her boyfriend, and she was supposed to have his back when he is angry and irrational although she would have preferred if she knocked him out. At least when he woke up, he would wake up with a more manageable demeanor.

“Hello. Brother.” Zach said when the person who she discovered was Jeffery picked up the call.

“Hello, Zach. What is going on?” Jeffery sleepy voice asked.

“I need to see you urgently.” Zach tells Jeffery.

“What is wrong.” Jeffery asked, his voice suddenly alert.

“It is not something we can talk about over the phone. Can we meet in Vincent's diner, in an hour?” Zach asked even though his tone was informing.

“Sure. I will be there.” Jeffery said.

“Okay bye.” Zach said as he hanged up then rested in the back of his chair.

“You need to calm down.” Maisie tells Zach.

“Don't worry, I will calm down when those people who are responsible for this are in jail.” Zach said heatedly. “Go grab your coat.

“Why?” Maisie asked confused.

“Because you are following me, baby doll.” Zach said and Maisie folded her hand across her chest. “Please!” Zach added when he saw that she didn't make a move to do anything.

“Okay. Only because I am interested in seeing this diner. You have talked about it so much; I feel like I have been going there all my life.” Maisie said as she kissed Zach's cheeks then left the office to hers.

****

“I had no idea.” Jeffery said looking through the documents Zach had given him. “What is the meaning of this. Brother. I am so sorry that this happened while I was in charge, I don't even have an inkling of who is responsible.”

Zach looked at his brother. He wanted to believe Jeffery, but something was stopping him from believing Jeffery. Maisie was sitting in a booth watching Jeffery's face so she could tell him what she observed later although nobody was a better face reader than him. And he was sure that Maisie would not do a good job at it because Vivi was distracting her. Trust his brother to do everything he does now with his fiancée by his side even to visit her ex.

"You don't suspect anybody who might have done this.” Zach asked just to be sure. There was always something within him that could tell if the person he is questioning was lying to him. He had always been that way and he was called the human lie detector, that was what even made him go to law school. Since he started questioning Jeffery, every alarm had gone off in his head. It was like Jeffery had been telling him one lie upon another.

“That is just it brother. I don't know who might have done this.” Jeffery said as he uses his hand to pass through his hair in a state of agitation. “Maybe I can help you with figuring it out.” Jeffery offered.

“Thanks, but I think I can manage on my own.” Zach said as he raised his hand to signal Maisie that he was done with his conversation. He saw Maisie lean over Vivi and told her something then stepped out of the booth leaving a red-faced Vivienne behind.

“That was one of the best food I have ever tasted.” Maisie said as she gave Zach a peck and nodded at Jeffery. “Nice to meet you again.”

“You too.” Jeffery said with a smile.

“I wish we could meet under better circumstances.” Maisie said with her face full of innocence.

Jeffery laughs at that. “Get your boyfriend to bring you to one of the family dinners. I am sure that the whole family is all dying to meet you.” Jeffery said.

“Okay enough. Before you get ideas into her head.” Zach said. “Bye brother," he added and nodded in Vivi's direction then dragged Maisie out of there when she started asking about his family.

As soon as they were out of sight the smile on Jeffery's face was wiped off.

“I hate her, and I wish she would just drop dead.” Vivi spat as she slid into the seat Zach vacated.

“What happened.” Jeffery asked.

“I try to put suspicion in her mind that Zach could still be in love with me and how he had been acting since he woke up towards me. Instead, she told me that I was a bitch who was money hungry and had no class for jumping from one brother to the other.” Vivi puffs.

“I am so sorry sweetheart, but I think we need to fast-forward our plans.” Jeffery said with a fond smile at Vivi even though he knew that those descriptions of his fiancée were spot on.

"You don't need to tell me twice. I can wait to see her face when she sees me with Zach, we would see the classless lady then.” Vivi said with a cruel smile.