Chapter 64

Liam’s POV

Aria accepted the phone and brought it to her ear. “Yes? Oh, yes. Hello.”

Standing nearby, I crossed his arms. I couldn’t hear what the executive was saying, only Aria’s responses. Still, I could guess what was happening here, just from how pissed that executive sounded on the phone.

Aria’s innocent wasn’t in question. There was no way she had anything to do with this, hands down. My belief in her, however, was not universal. The executives did not know Aria as I did, and though I could argue with them until I was blue in the face, they wouldn’t back Aria in a scandal without proof of her innocence.

“I can assure you, sir, that I didn’t do what they are saying,” Aria said. Her voice was firm as she defended herself. That would work in her favor. A quivering voice would only make them think she was incapable, even if she was innocent.

“No. I understand that, but – no. Of course. Thank you, sir.”

Slowly, she lowered down the phone.

“I’ve been suspended while an internal investigation is performed,” Aria said. “My promotion is currently on hold.”

“I’ll call them back,” I said, already moving around her to reach for the phone.

She stepped into my path, blocking me… while also placing herself between me and the desk. Like this, she was so close, her chest mere inches from mine. She looked up at me through her eyelashes.

“That will only make things worse.”

“I could try to convince them,” I said. “At the very least, they should know that you have my unwavering confidence and support.”

Her gaze dropped away. “I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble along with me. You should stay out of this, Liam.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening. And I’m not just saying that. I may have a… fondness for you, Aria, but I would do the same for any of my employees that I thought was being falsely accused.”

Lightly, she shook her head. “Just make sure Jackson and the other drivers stay on the nutrition plans I set for them while I’m gone. I need to pack a few things to take home.”

Sliding away from me, she moved to back of her desk and began collecting her photos of Joe, as well as a few framed accolades she’d earned over the years.

Annoyed by her defeated attitude, I followed her around the desk. When she reached out for a picture of Joe, I gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

“Don’t.” I meant to say it softly, but it comes out sounding loud in the otherwise quiet room.

“I’m not going to leave my things here if I’m fired.”

“You aren’t fired,” I said fiercely, my irritation at the situation rising. “I don’t care what the executives think, Aria, I’m going to fight tooth and nail to keep you here.”

I wanted her to believe in me. She had doubted me many times in the past. Maybe I had earned that doubt, maybe I hadn’t. But I had worked hard to be the kind of man she could depend on, since those mistakes of the past.

My personal feelings about her possible cheating… About who Joe’s father could be…

Those were all tossed on the backburner now, to be thought over and investigated at a later date. Saving Aria’s career was the most important thing to me now.

I wasn’t blind to the situation here. If Aria lost her job because of possible cheating, she’d never find another job in this industry again. She’d be entirely blacklisted.

Like hell, I would let her whole life be ruined over some incorrect rumor.

With my eyes, I tried to convey my sincerity. She stared into them for a time, searching.

After a moment, she looked away. “Thank you,” she said. “I need to get back to Joe now.”

“Good idea,” I told her.

With a nod, she walked out of the room, leaving her personal effects behind.

She didn’t say that she believed I could save her and her job, but by leaving behind her pictures and awards, the same message was still conveyed.

My determination swelled.

Whoever was responsible for Aria’s trouble was not going to get away with it.

Aria’s POV

When I returned home, Isabella sat in the living room, reading a book. She closed it when I came in. “Joe’s asleep.”

“Thank you for the last minute save, Isabella. I’d just sent the babysitter home when the news came in.”

“You know you can always depend on me.”

“I do. Thank you.” I wondered if I could depend on Liam too. He’d seemed very passionate about trying to fix this mistake. As the boss of the team, he might be the person in the best position to try. Though even his word was secondary to that of the executives.

If they couldn’t be convinced, it didn’t matter what Liam did or said, I would still be out of a job.

Maybe out of a career.

What a whirlwind. From promotion to probation in less than 8 hours, I felt like was on some kind of emotional roller coaster.

“Did you find anything out?” Isabella asked.

“No. My records are pristine. I can call the suppliers in the morning to see if they had any kind breach of some kind, but I don’t understand why anyone would think stimulants were added to my food plan. It doesn’t make any sense. I didn’t make any mistakes on the forms.”

I’d checked and re-checked. Mistakes happen, but I would never be so careless as to add stimulants to my driver’s foods or food plans. Those sort of ingredients were totally banned from even coming on the premises.

I knew and obeyed the rules. Maybe someone else on the team wasn’t as careful? But who?

No, I couldn’t go down that line of thinking. I didn’t want to mistrust the people that I worked with.

But someone set me up, of that I was sure.

I just didn’t know who.

“I take it the bosses weren’t happy,” Isabella said.

“I’m suspended.”

“And the promotion…?”

“On hold,” I said.

“Oh, Aria. I’m sorry.”

I shrugged, feeling helpless. Worse, I’d upset Joe by making him think we had to leave, and now I wasn’t even so sure it would come to that. But I couldn’t tell him we were staying for good, because if the truth did come out, the promotion could be reinstated. It would hurt him all over again.

“It’s fine,” I said, even though it wasn’t.

Isabella knew that. “How about a glass of wine?”

“That sounds wonderful,” I replied. “The best idea I’ve heard all day.”

Joe’s POV

Joe sat on the top stair, listening to his mom and Isabella talk. He didn’t fully understand all that they were saying. They spoke in riddles sometimes, not always making it clear what they were talking about.

But Joe could understand enough to know that his mom was upset.

About having to leave? Or about something else?

She did leave in a rush earlier, calling Isabella to watch him. She thought he didn’t see things and know things, but he did.

Whatever was upsetting to her, was upsetting to him too, even if he didn’t know what it was.

“I should check on Joe,” Aria said, and started heading to the stairs.

Joe rushed back to his bedroom and flew under his covers. He squeezed his eyes shut as she came through the door, pretending to be asleep.

She watched him for a minute. She did that sometimes, when something big bothered her.

Whatever it was this time, Joe would find a way to help her.

He didn’t want her to be sad anymore or ever again.