apter 5 Pin a Crime on Me
Amanda’s eyes went wide, jaw practically hit the floor.
17 min loft
Caleb’s eyes na
narrowed to slits. “Dominic, bedtime. Finish that milk and go to sleep. I’ll take you to kindergarten on Monday.”
Dominic hesitated. He wanted to ask why Caroline wasn’t going, but one look at Caleb’s thundercloud face shut that down real
quick.
Reading deeper, Caleb found Caroline was throwing in the towel on custody. His face went ghost–white with fury, teeth grinding. “Well played, Caroline. You’re really something!”
The next day was Saturday.
Caroline was trying to catch some extra Z’s when her phone started blowing up like crazy, ruining all her sweet dreams.
She answered with major side–eye, catching Edwin’s dead–serious tone. “Ms. Warren, we need you at the office now!”
“Bruh, it’s the weekend. A holiday, for Christ’s sake! Unless someone died, this can wait till Monday.”
She was about to hang that up.
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Chapter 5 Pin a Crime on Me
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But Edwin went full panic mode. “Wait! There’s a real mess here. You could legit end up in prison if we don’t fix this now!”
Caroline froze for a second.
Edwin, Caleb’s right–hand man for years, was usually as cool as a cucumber. He wouldn’t sweat it even if aliens invaded.
So this had to be some real deal!
“Get it, I’m coming.” She grabbed her stuff and yeeted herself
into a cab.
Edwin was doing the anxiety shuffle at the door. As soon as he spotted her, the knot in his stomach finally unraveled.
“What’s going on?” she asked, straight to the point.
Edwin rubbed his temple. “Remember that Betcher Mall supplier you’ve been dealing with? They’ve filed an official complaint, saying you took bribes and supplied shoddy materials!
“The Project manager’s in Mr. Martin’s office right now, trying hard to get you fired. They’re talking about calling the cops.”
On their way up, Edwin spilled all the beans.
When Caroline heard the accusations, her eyes popped out in disbelief. “No way! I’ve never taken a damn dime!”
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“Ms. Warren, that ain’t gonna cut it. They got evidence. Even if Mr. Martin and I ride for you, nobody else will buy it. You’ll see soon enough.” Edwin was all serious as they rolled into Caleb’s office.
Inside, the supplier and project manager were mean–mugging
hard.
Caleb was sitting in his chair, looking stone–cold. The air was thick with tension.
“That’s her right there! She demanded a five–percent kickback, or she’d pull the plug on my supply contract.” The man seethed, his eyes blazing with anger.
The middle–aged project manager shot Caroline a death stare, asking the supplier, “So you passed off substandard goods, huh?”
“What was I supposed to do? Take an L? Plus, this was all Ms. Warren’s bright idea,” the supplier clapped back, turning up the heat.
These clowns had their story locked down tight, making Caroline look sus AF. With construction popping off and materials already on site, foundation problems could fail the building inspection and risk the whole joint coming down.
If that went sideways, everybody was gonna catch hands, even
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Chapter 5 Pin a Crime on Me
Caleb.
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Caleb kept his poker face as he sized up Caroline. It had only been a day, but she seemed like a complete stranger now.
“Mr. Martin, I didn’t do it.” Caroline locked eyes with him,
unmoved.
The supplier lost it, jabbing a finger at her. “Bullshit! You’re really gonna pin this whole thing on me?
“I never signed off on this! You strong–armed me with all those promises. Now the project manager’s got the goods, you’re trying to duck out? Hell no!”
He yanked out his phone and shoved it in Caleb’s face. “Here’s the smoking gun, Mr. Martin. Transfer receipts!”
Caleb checked the records, his face going storm–cloud dark. “Caroline. What’s your story?”
She bit her lip, eyeing the screen. Yeah, that was her account, but she couldn’t, for the life of her, remember getting that payment.
Then it clicked. Caroline cocked her head, smirking. “Real smooth, Mr. Martin. Wanna pin a crime on me before I quit?”
Caleb’s face twisted, eyes going sharp with heat. Those perfect features got really ugly in an instant.
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She thinks I’m behind all this? That’s a real hoot!
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“Can’t clear your name? Then let’s do things by the book,” he raised his hand.
Edwin, hovering nearby, speed–dialed someone.
Two cops burst in minutes later. One stepped up to Caroline. “Ms. Warren, you’re wanted for questioning about financial crimes. Please come with us.”
Caroline was ready to explode.
So that’s his play–frame me for fraud to keep me from jumping ship.
This could tank my career. Or worse–land my ass in prison.
What a good husband I have.
“Four years, Caleb, and I never saw the real you!” she spat, spinning on her heel to follow the cops.
Watching her vanish, Caleb’s fists went while–knuckle under the desk.
He turned to the supplier, voice arctic. “You sure Caroline asked for kickbacks? She makes millions a year. Why would she risk it all for that pocket change?”
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The supplier went stiff, sweating bullets.
He couldn’t meet Caleb’s eyes, tripping over his words.
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The project manager jumped in, trying to save his own skin. “Mr. Martin, look, I get it. You don’t wanna believe Ms. Warren’s dirty. Hit me the same way at first.
“But think about it–makes sense, right? I mean, she’s some orphan who came from nothing. People like that, when they see cash…”
Caleb’s eyes went lethal. “Orphan? Nothing?”
Realizing he’d put his foot in his mouth, the project manager started backpedaling hard. “That’s not what I meant! But we got receipts–Ms. Warren’s guilty! Mr. Martin, gotta think about the other employees…”
The chill around Caleb intensified, and he flashed a dangerous smile. “Oh, thanks for the heads–up, of course I will. Whoever’s messing up is gonna pay the piper.”
Then he dismissed them with a flick of the wrist.
Edwin stuck around, looking quite confused. “Mr. Martin… No way Ms. Warren would sink so low for some basic kickback. That ain’t adding up.”
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Like, who was gonna believe the Martin Group president’s wife would be dumb enough to get caught up over some poor bribe?
But those in the dark just kept using Caroline’s come–up story against her.
Clear as day, somebody went all out to get her locked up.
Caleb leaned back, his eyes giving nothing away. “I know. But she’s been feeling herself too much lately. This is just a wake–up call for her.”
She’s been living too soft to forget her place. Try to scheme her way to what she wants?
I’ll show her what happens when my protection’s gone.
Edwin muttered under his breath, “But Ms. Warren ain’t looking like she’s about to wave the white flag…”
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