He Accused Me of Stealing, But I Heard the Truth novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Emerald in My Pocket

The first week, Laurence asked me to one dinner.

Nine members of his board were coming to the penthouse, and he wanted his daughter's mother at the table.

*She should be seen. They should see her. They should see Birdie is protected.*

He said none of that aloud.

He said, "It is a business dinner. Wear something plain."

I wore a grey dress the nurse had lent me and my hair in a clip.

Birdie slept in the blue room with the door open and the nurse reading beside her.

The board ate lamb and talked about interest rates.

Imogen sat at Laurence's right hand, as she had for nine years, and refilled water glasses before anyone asked.

Nobody looked at me for long.

After the plates were cleared, she tapped a spoon against her glass.

"Before coffee," she said, "I'm sorry to ask something awkward."

Her voice was low and grieved.

"Mrs. Carrington's emerald bracelet was in the study safe this morning. I went to put away the invoices, and it is gone."

Nine faces turned toward Laurence.

His mother had died when he was twenty. The bracelet was the one thing in the house he never let anyone touch.

His whole body went hard.

*Not that. Anything but that.*

"The safe has been opened by three people this month," Imogen went on, gently. "I'm sure it's a mistake. But to protect everyone here, I'd feel better if we checked the coat closet. It would clear every guest at once."

A board member laughed uncertainly.

"We're not suspects, Imogen."

"Of course not. That's the point."

She stood and walked to the closet in the hall.

She was gone about a minute, and when she came back she was holding my plain grey coat in both hands.

"Ciara," she said. "Forgive me. This was on the hook by yours. Is it yours?"

"Yes."

"There's something in the pocket."

← Chapter 3 · All chapters · Chapter 5 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend