Chapter 21

Twenty-One

Liam

I rummaged through Mia's kitchen, quietly opening and closing cabinet doors as I hunted for something decent to make for breakfast. The fridge was stocked, but I couldn't help but notice how different everything looked. Organic vegetables, Greek yogurt, almond milk—she was definitely trying out this whole "clean eating" thing.

Still, I knew there was no way she'd ever give up her guilty pleasures. I smirked to myself, remembering the way her face lit up at the mention of fries from her favorite drive-through.

The sound of the shower running in the background reminded me she was getting ready, and I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me. Her cabin, though small and simple, had a certain charm to it. But I knew she wouldn't be here much longer—she couldn't, now that she'd been fired.

As I pulled out some eggs and vegetables, I found a skillet and got to work chopping the veggies. The scent of sautéing onions and peppers filled the kitchen, blending with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Halfway through whisking the eggs, I heard the water shut off, then the faint sound of Mia padding around in the bathroom.

Moments later, she walked into the kitchen, her hair still damp and her face flushed from the hot shower. She stopped, raising an eyebrow when she saw me cooking.

"Veggie omelets? Impressive," she said with a teasing smile.

I shrugged, flipping the omelet expertly in the pan. "I'm full of surprises."

Mia chuckled, pulling a chair out and sitting at the small table. "I'm getting used to your surprises. So they aren't surprises anymore."

I smirked. "Oh, I've still got a few to pull out of my hat."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Perhaps both," I teased, kissing her cheek.

As I plated the omelets and brought them over to the table, I couldn't help but notice how relaxed Mia was. There was a unique connection between us now, something deeper, more natural like we were finally in sync. It wasn't just the comfort of being together—it felt like she was beginning to let her guard down, and it gave me a sense of certainty.

We dug into breakfast, and after a few bites, I couldn't resist bringing up the conversation we'd had the night before.

"So," I began, leaning back in my chair. "Do you remember what I said yesterday?"

Mia looked at me, her fork pausing mid-air. "About what?"

"About falling in love with you."

Her cheeks flushed, and she set her fork down, her eyes dropping to the plate. "I remember. It's just... yesterday feels like a blur. Everything that happened, getting fired, the job offer... it's all so much."

"I know," I said gently, reaching across the table to take her hand. "But I meant what I said. I've fallen for you, Mia. And now that you've been fired, we have a lot to figure out."

Her gaze lifted to meet mine. "I've been thinking about it. About us, about the job... about everything. I realized that being independent has always been part of who I am, but... maybe falling in love with someone like you doesn't mean losing tha—even if you are uber-rich."

My heart swelled at her words, and I could see the uncertainty still lingering in her eyes. She was processing it all, and I didn't want to rush her.

"There's something else," I said, my tone more serious. "Now that you've lost the job, you're going to have to move out of this cabin."

Mia nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Well, I have a solution," I said, leaning forward. "Move in with me."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Move in with you?"

"Yeah. I've got a fenced backyard for Daisy, plenty of space, and a home office where you can keep working on everything you've found. It just makes sense."

Mia hesitated, her hand still in mine. "Are you sure?"

"Of course, I'm sure," I said, squeezing her hand. "You'll be working with me, and we'll figure everything else out along the way."

She let out a slow breath, a small smile creeping across her lips. "Okay. It sounds like a deal. I'll have to move out anyway since the cabin goes with the job."

"Exactly."

As she took a sip of coffee, I leaned back in my chair, letting my gaze settle on her. "You know," I started, my tone playful, "you did a pretty good job pretending to be my girlfriend at the gala. Now, all you have to do is keep playing the part. We could take it a step further—my fiancée and business partner, perhaps?"

She looked up from her cup, a teasing grin on her lips. "Oh, is that so? You want me to fake being your fiancée now?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not fake, Mia. You've already proven you can handle anything thrown at you. And let's be honest—you've been doing a lot more than just helping me with this case."

Mia laughed, but there was something else in her eyes, something deeper. "I appreciate the confidence, but I have to admit... living in the city, working at Edgewater... What if I'm not cut out for the whole big-city life?"

I rested my arms on the table. "I understand," I said gently. "I get it. But this doesn't have to be about moving to Dallas permanently. For now, we can work from here, together. We'll take things one step at a time. No pressure."

She nodded, her expression thoughtful, but I could see the weight lifting from her shoulders. "I've never been one for the hustle and bustle," she admitted. "But working with you... it feels right. Even with all of this happening, I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be."

"That's all I want," I said softly. "And as far as living arrangements go—well, it's official now. You're moving in with me."

Mia blinked, a look of mock surprise on her face. "Oh, is that so? You've already decided?"

"Yep," I said, grinning. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "I guess I don't have much of a choice, then."

"You don't," I teased. "Just pack a few things for now. I'll send a moving van for the rest later."

Her smile faded for a moment, and I could tell she was thinking about the park, her job, and the life she was leaving behind. "It's going to be strange not being at the park anymore. Tessa's going to be laid off, and I really hope Frank will give her my old job. She deserves it."

"I'm sure he'll make the right decision," I said, my tone firm. "And you've already made the right one by coming with me."

She gave me a small nod, but I could see the hesitation still in her eyes. Before I could say anything more, her phone rang, cutting through the silence. Mia glanced at the screen. "It's Tessa," she said, a little surprised. "I don't think she knows what happened yet."

I nodded, watching as she answered the call.

"Hey, Tessa," Mia greeted, her voice light but strained. I could hear Tessa's excited chatter on the other end, asking how things were going with me.

Mia glanced at me before answering. "Liam's good. But actually, there's been a bit of a change. I've been fired."

"What?" Tessa's voice was loud enough that I could hear her shock through the phone.

"Yeah," Mia sighed. "It's a long story. But I'm moving in with Liam for now."

As Mia explained the situation to Tessa, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. She was handling everything with a calm strength, even when it must have felt like her whole world was shifting. She talked about her hope that Tessa would take her place as chief ranger, and I could hear the passion in her voice as she spoke about her friend's qualifications.

Finally, the conversation wrapped up, and Mia hung up the phone, taking a long breath. "Well, that's done."

I reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "You're doing great," I said softly. "And now, we're going to figure out this embezzlement mess… together."

She squeezed my hand in return and blushed a bit. "Yeah. Together."

The late afternoon sun filtered through the blinds in my home office, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. Mia sat across from me, Daisy curled up by her feet, while I leaned over my laptop, scrolling through the emails, bank transfers, and documents. The deeper I went, the heavier the knot in my gut grew. This wasn't just a small oversight—this was a full-blown disaster.

Mia's keyboard clacked softly, her focus matching mine. The air between us was thick with tension. "It's all here," Mia said quietly, breaking the silence. She leaned closer to her screen, pointing at the data. "The payments from Riverstone Hospital to Golden Rock Consulting are infrequent. And the services don't match up with the money being moved. It doesn't add up."

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the hours of strain. "I didn't catch this earlier because Derek's friend at Golden Rock did legitimate consulting work for me every now and then," I said, scanning the documents again. "But Derek... it looks like he was inflating the invoices. Golden Rock would bill him for their work for Edgewater, and then Derek would pass those invoices to me with his 10 percent fee. But instead of just taking his cut, he inflated the total, only paying Golden Rock what they were owed and keeping the extra for himself."

Mia looked up, her eyes meeting mine, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "It's hard to believe, but... yeah. There's no way around it."

I clenched my jaw, trying to push down the frustration rising in my chest. "Derek and I have been friends for years. I trusted him. Hell, we've been through so much together. And now... this?"

Mia reached out, her hand resting on my arm. The simple touch helped calm the storm inside me, even if just a little. "We'll figure it out, don't worry."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I looked at her, taking in the determination in her eyes. She wasn't just doing this because it was her job. She cared, and that made all the difference.

"I'm going to have to confront him. There's no other way."

"Are you ready for that?"

Was I? I wasn't sure. "I have to be," I said, my voice firmer than I felt. "Derek needs to explain himself. I need to hear it from him, face-to-face."

The betrayal stung, but I had to keep my head on straight. There was too much at stake—my company, my reputation, everything. I couldn't afford to lose sight of that, no matter how much it hurt.

"We'll go through all the documents and files again," Mia said, shifting gears back to the task at hand. "I want to make sure we have everything lined up before you confront him. If this is what you think it is, you'll need all the evidence to bring him down."

She was right. This wasn't just about my friendship with Derek anymore. This was about doing the right thing, about holding someone accountable for betraying the trust of those who worked for him. The realization settled heavily on my shoulders.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Mia."

She smiled softly, a warmth that cut through the tension. "You'd be fine. Just maybe a little less organized."

I chuckled, the sound a welcome break from the tension. "I don't think so, and I don't want to find out."

She laid her head on my shoulder, and for a little while, we just sat there, the world outside the office fading away. I knew tomorrow would be a turning point—for me, for Edgewater, for everything. I let out a slow breath, leaning back in my chair. "I think it's time to have a little chat with Derek."

"You sure you're ready?"

"Yeah. No more waiting." I picked up the phone and dialed Derek's number. As the line rang, I kept my voice steady though my heart pounded in my chest.

"Hey, Derek, it's Liam," I said when he answered, keeping my tone light. "Been a while. How about we catch up this Sunday? Come down to the cabin. We'll crack open some beers and watch the game. Just like old times."

There was a brief pause on the other end before Derek's voice came through, cheerful as ever. "Liam! Sounds like a plan, buddy. I'll be there."

I hung up, setting the phone down on the desk. The trap was set.

Mia looked at me, a mix of pride and concern in her eyes. "You think he'll suspect anything?"

I shook my head. "Not yet. But by the end of Sunday, he'll know something's up."

And with that, I knew the wheels were in motion. The game was about to change.