In out and back in love with you.

6. The best one here, ASAP!!

MTC & Associates was always a good place to work, the hours were reasonable and the conditions fair; maybe that's why Alexander McIntyre was so surprised someone dare putting their job at risk, the businessman was also well known, if he fired someone it was unlikely other company’s would hire the former employee. However, he was about to enter his office to discover a possible diversion of funds; his day had not started in the best way, just after the school bus picked up his children Alexander decided to talk to his wife and the conversation did not go quite well.

(Morning flashback)

- Morning- He greeted his wife with a serious expression.

- Teddy bear!! I didn't know you were up, where’s the children?

- They went to school thirty minutes ago, same time they leave every day. - Is she serious? How could she not know where her children were.

- Oh, you're right, I must’ve lost track of time, anyway, I have to go to the club for a tennis class, I'll be back in the afternoon, good luck at work.- said Narcy turning around to leave the dining room.

- Narcy wait, I want to talk to you, sit with me for a minute?- Although the attitude towards their children bothered him, he knew he had to be patient.

- Ok, what's up Teddy bear?- the Words were sweet but the emptiness in her eyes bothered him.

- Last night you arrived past midnight, don't you think it's a bit late for a married woman to get home?- As soon as those words came out of her mouth, Narcy's expression froze.

- I was at a waterpolo event, when it ended I have a few drinks with my friends, you know, the ones who are here every day and don't go on a trip four days a week- that hit a nerve but Alexander took the jab

- Honey you know that I travel as much as I do for work, but I don't like getting back to an empty house and finding my children outside with the nanny and their mother arriving at so-late hours, even more so when I want to spend time with all of you.- Although being dominant was within his DNA, he did not want to present himself to his wife as a tyrant.

- I knew it, I knew that all of them were right!! You want me to stay home, alone and isolated, just to please your selfish whims- Narcy sounded like a spoiled brat.

- Look Narcy, I don't know who THEY are, but I can assure you that's not what I meant- The always well composed CEO was about to lose it.

- My friends from the country club of course, their husbands are a lot like you, you know, we think the male pose has a lot to do with s****l frustration and you all want to take it out on us, their innocent wives. Don't you see? I'm a social butterfly!! and you want to break my wings!!! - As soon as Narcy ended her diatribe she realized the fury she had unleashed, but it was too late.

- That's enough - Alexander shouted - Do you think I'm sexually frustrated? Well I’am And why would that be, huh? We’ve had s*x twice in the last year, and in the last one six months ago, you jumped out of bed in the middle of it all, cause you had forgotten an appointment at the beauty salon!!!!!

- Hey! - Narcy interrupted- that was a very important date!! The roots of my hair were showing.

- I don't care! I'm fed up!- Alexander scream at the top of his lungs

- I want a real wife and I want my children to grow up with a mother who is interested in being involved in their lives!!!

-All this for a little waterpolo?- Narcy replied in a bored tone.

-You don't play water polo!! I don't think any of your friends play it!! In fact, I don't think you know what WaterPolo is!!- He was exasperated, knowing that his wife discussed their s****l life with perfect strangers was already bad enough but the fact his wife also refuse to be involved in the lives of their children to fly freely like the social butterfly she considered herself, exceeded the limits of his patience.

- But, teddy bear, why are you so angry? It's just a bad streak, if it makes you happy we can go to Alec's next soccer game!!- The woman wasn't stupid she could see that her husband was about to give up on her, and she couldn't allow that, after all it was her safety, her source of income, so she decided to soften the tone and approached her husband placing her hands on the well ironed shirt of his tailormade suit

- Come on teddy bear!! you know I love you, right? Let's go to Alec's game and forget that this ever happened, okay??

-And what about us as a couple?! I want us to go back to being the marriage we were, we can work on our relationship, but I can't do it alone- Alexander tried to relax, she took a step back and said as if apologizing:

- Yes, of course, just give me a little time, okay, I want to take this feng-shui energy course for my inner goddess and I most not mix my own spiritual sexuality with others, is like a rebirth you know? I’ll be on it for like two more months. Just give me that alone time. -After saying that Narcy fluttered out of the dining room as the social butterfly she claim to be, leaving her husband discontent with the impression that despite their apparent agreement, they were actually at a standstill.

(End of flashback)

Upon entering the boardroom, Alexander saw everyone was there waiting for him already, he did not overlook the gloomy expression on his cousin Monica's face, this was not good.

-Okay, let's start. What did you found- The businessman went straight to the point, better to remove the band-aid in one go. Looking directly at Henry, his accounting manager, he waited to hear the news.

- We analyzed the transfers of last year, and the irregularities began eight months ago. At first it were small movements such as extraordinary travel authorizations and lower expenses but about five months ago the deposits become more frequent and larger. We had not noticed them because the minor expense accounts are not particularly monitored and as long as it does’n’t exceed the budget we do not require verification. However, the first big move was four months ago, an invoice was paid to a supplier and almost immediately the same amount was paid for the same concept to an unauthorized account, we are waiting for confirmation from the bank cause the account is not on our system- While saying this, Henry rubbed his hands nervously.

- How much?- Alexander asked with a livid face. This time it was Monica who answered.

- About two hundred movements in minor expenses and sixty large transfers, the sum of everything is around 1.4 million.- Said the finance manager, she had carried out the financial check of the company flawlessly for years and someone had abused her cousin in her absence, it was the worst case scenario.

- Who??- It was Alexander's next question and everyone knew what he meant.

- In my absence due to maternity leave, the expenses were authorized by none other than Mr. Black.

- Edward?- Alexander couldn't believe it, his business partner, the friend he had trusted for so many years.

- And the destination account? - asked the businessman with murderous intention.

-We are still waiting for confirmation from the bank, we can't say anything else with certainty.- Henry replied in a small voice.

- I don't want any of you to say a thing to Edward, I don't want you to put him on notice. Monica will reassume her functions to avoid more wrong authorizations and I will change the passwords of my bank accounts since that was where the payments were made from. Maximum confidentiality apply to this matter.

- Yes sir

- Of course

Was the unison replay of his trusted collaborators.

- What about the external consultant I requested yesterday.- Alexander asked Monica.

- I made a few calls last night and got a solid recommendation of a consulting firm in North Carolina.- the finance manager said with caution.

- Excellent, when do they start? How soon can they be here?.

- Well, the recommendation is great, It’s just I don't know if they will be a good fit… - What Monica is not telling her cousin is he knows the consultant in question quite well, Monica knows a little about the story between Cassandra and Alexander, she knew in their youth both were deeply in love, she was not sure what happened, what she knew was her cousin somehow f****d up and despite being head over heels in love with Cassie ended up marrying Narcy she could not tell him this, not in front of Henry, Alexander would not appreciate her revealing his personal life. Monica knew Cassie well, in fact she esteemed her and found her quite funny, but after their separation Monica somehow lost contact with Cassie.

- What do you mean they wouldn't fit well here?, are they're the best? - Alexander asked, starting to get impatient.

- Well, yes, that’s what I’ve been told ...-Monica was interrupted.

- Do they have experience in similar matters? - The businessman asked.

- I've been told that's how it is. But... - Once again the young woman got interrupted.

- No more “but”. We need the best in this, and I want them here ASAP, Talk to them, pay them what they ask for, fly them here if necessary, solve this today for God's sake!!!- Alexander ended the discussion with a raised hand to stop any objection that his cousin could present him, and without another word he left the boardroom to shut himself in his office. He had thousands of matters to attend to and now he would have to do it looking after his back, at least until he could take care of his business partner accordingly. Edward Black had not realized yet, he had poked the bear, and he would have to endure the claws of the fearsome predator.

After Alexander left the room, Monica took a deep breath. She did tried to warn his cousin, right? It wasn't her fault if he didn't want to listen. Now the question in her mind was if the beautiful consultant would want to take her offer, would Cassie help them now? Or would she ask Alexander to take his request and shove it up his…? … No, she was too professional for that. Well, there was no reason to postpone it any longer. Taking her cell phone she dialed Cassie's office, a very kind girl took her call but explained that her boss was not there, Monica could not wait any longer, if Cassie decided not to help them she would have to look for another consultant, so in no uncertain words she told the assistant that the matter was of the utmost urgency and that she was not willing to wait any longer, she even had to mention she knew Casandra some time ago and she would not hang up the phone until she spoke to her.

At the insistence of her interlocutor Amanda had no choice but to transfer the call, and before Cassie could say a single word, Monica decided to surprise her with the nickname only her closest ones used for her:.

- Hi Cass!! How you’ve been?…