Beneath This Ink (Beneath #2)(74)

“I know. And now we’re all going to be out of a job. Which sucks, because I like being underemployed. Now I’m going to have to go back to being a trust fund kid while I look for another job I’m overqualified for.”

I was shocked her words could pull a halfhearted smile from me.

“So,” she continued. “Enough about Archer. What are you going to do about your man?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. I’m waiting for the board’s decision. I need all the facts before I can go to him.”

She narrowed her gaze on me. “You sure you’re not just procrastinating?”

I’d considered that already. “I’m sure.” I leaned over and pulled a folder from the box at my feet. “And I’m going to give him back this.” I flipped it open to reveal the deed.

Elle chewed on her bottom lip before saying, “Yeah. I can see why you’d want to do that. It’s not like we need it now. So then what?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Are you going to try to get him back? Or are you going to let him walk away?”

“You make it sound like I have a real choice.”

“You always have a choice, Vanessa.” The words were so similar to some Con had once spoken to me.

We sat in silence while I considered them. “I don’t know what to do,” I admitted.

Elle opened her mouth to say something more, but another knock stopped her.

“Come in,” I called.

This time it was Lucas.

“Vanessa. Ms. Snyder.”

“What did they decide?” I asked without preamble.

Elle rose. “I’ll leave you two alone then.” To me, she added, “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will.” Elle closed the door as she left my office.

I couldn’t stand the anticipation. “So? What’s the verdict?”

Lucas didn’t sit. He just crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “We’ve decided to turn the entire matter over to the Attorney General.”

It was what I expected. It was the right way to handle it. Anything less would be highly unethical and illegal. After all, the charity division of the Attorney General’s Office was the ultimate authority the foundation was accountable to as a nonprofit in the State of Louisiana. I considered what that meant. Likely a very public exposure of the scandal and a complete dismantling of the entire organization. All of the funds would probably be doled out to other charities in the state, and maybe some even given back to the families of the victims. Which would also make sense.

“That’s the choice I would have made.”

“Anything less would make the whole organization as guilty as Archer.” Lucas paused. “And the CFO. He admitted to being complicit in Archer’s plans and has been living above his nonprofit salary for years. Says Archer used his personal money to pay him off. He’ll face criminal charges. Herzog knew as well.”

A chilling thought struck me. “Archer didn’t kill Herzog, did he? That was natural causes, right?”

Lucas nodded. “Herzog was getting regular kickbacks from Archer, too. It was unlikely he’d been hit with a fit of conscience at this stage in the game. I think it’s safe to say his death was unconnected.”

“Okay. Then I guess it’s time I handed in this.” I slid my resignation across the desk. I hadn’t had to change much more than the date from the last time I’d printed it.

Lucas picked it up. “And what if the board wants you to stay on during the investigation?”

“How could they? I’m family. It wouldn’t be right. There’d have to be a conflict of interest there.”

“So you’re saying you wouldn’t, even if they asked?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. I wanted so badly to agree, to say that I would stay for every single minute they would let me, but I knew it would be that much harder to walk away when it was time to leave.

And there was one other giant reason I couldn’t stay.

“I can’t. I just can’t,” I replied.

Lucas stared at the paper for a few moments before changing the subject to one I didn’t want to discuss with him. “What are you going to do about Leahy?”

I didn’t answer.

“Come on, Vanessa. I think we’ve gotten to know each other well enough that you can talk to me about it.”

“I’d rather not.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw, but he smoothed his irritation away. “You realize he might not want you after this.”

The words—thoughtless words—hit me like spikes to the heart. I sat straighter. “Thank you, Mr. Titan, for that little slice of insight. I can’t believe I hadn’t considered the possibility myself.” I bit out the words, over-emphasizing them in my sarcasm.

He tilted his head to one side. “I’m not trying to be a dick—”

“Then you’re failing.”

“I just…” he trailed off, took a breath and released it. “I just want you to know you’ve got options. And one of those options is to let Leahy walk away and still not be alone.”

I stared at him intently. “What exactly are you saying, Titan?”

“That regardless of the fact that you think I’m a dick, I’m a dick who likes you a hell of a lot. I respect you. I think we’d be good together. You want to make a difference? You want to run a foundation? I’ll f*cking start one. I’ve got an extra billion to throw at it right now. Just say the word, and it’s yours.”