What The Heart Finds by Gadziala Jessica

Author:Gadziala, Jessica [Gadziala, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-05-06T07:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

She wrapped her arms around her knees, resting her head against them and just... waiting. For hours. Lost in her own world of self-loathing and worst-case scenarios.

“Lena?” Eric's hesitant, worried voice said at her side. “Hey,” he said when she didn't respond, a sinking feeling in his stomach. “Baby. What's wrong?”

Lena took a breath, shaking her head and refusing to look at him. “I got kicked out of the inn.”

Eric crouched down next to her, his legs brushing her knees. “Had a wild party, did you?” he asked, his tone attempting levity.

Lena snorted. “No.”

“Well what happened, sweetheart?” he asked, reaching out to touch her hair.

“Emily caught be breaking into the computer system,” she admitted honestly. What was the point in lying? He would find out eventually. “She thinks I am some kind of identity thief now.”

Eric's hand stilled in her hair but didn't move. “What?”

Lena turned her head, looking at his face. Patient. Non-judgmental. Why would be be understanding when she just admitted she had committed a crime? Had his own past been so sordid that he was willing to overlook such a major indiscretion?

“I'm not an identity thief,” she said, her voice sounding deeper than usual, her throat sore from crying.

“Well I guessed as much. You have hard enough time holding onto this identity you wear,” he said, almost smiling. Almost. “So what were you doing on the computer?”

“Stealing financial records,” she admitted, watching his brow raise. “for my job,” she quickly added.

“Your job? What do you work for a major competitor?” he asked, his tone amused.

“I work for Elliott Michaels,” she said, waiting for the recognition.

“Hannah's husband?” Eric asked. “the millionaire?”

“That's the one.”

“No wonder you're so uptight,” he laughed. “So what the hell did he want with the inn's financial records?”

“He wants to buy it,” she shrugged.

“For Hannah,” Eric said, nodding.

“Yeah. For Hannah. So he sent me in to gather a bit of information first. What the local attractions are. What needs to be repaired or changed. Employee salary. What the books look like. He just wanted to know what he was getting into.”

“Why didn't you just... tell Emily?”

“Because I was told to make sure no one found out. Besides...” she said, looking down. “Emily wouldn't have listened. She was understandably ticked.”

“She's got a hot temper,” Eric agreed. “Have you told Elliott about what happened?”

“Yeah,” she said, shaking her head. “I'm waiting for the scolding or firing text.”

“You think he'll still buy it?”

“Probably. If it's for Hannah... he'd do anything for Hannah.”

“Then he really has no reason to fire you. You got some of the information I'm sure. He can figure the rest out when he buys it. Or he would be upfront with Emily and ask her. She might tell if she knew it was a gift for Hannah.”

“I don't think she'd be happy about anyone buying it. That inn is her baby,” Lena said, understanding completely. She looked at Eric for a second, sighing. “I'm gonna be the town pariah in a few hours. I have to get out of here.

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