Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Don’t you …” I began then got choked up I was so mad. Finally, I found my voice again. “I told you about my childhood in confidence, not so you could bring it up in conversation at our place of work. And just so you know, I didn’t treat myself. These earrings were a birthday gift. Also, there was no inheritance. My dad left very little when he died. I just said that to get everyone off my back about Jonathan. What I do find curious is how much you’ve been going out of your way to talk to me ever since you heard I might have a windfall coming my way. Like, what exactly is your game? Did you decide you’d try getting close to me again, and I’d give you some of my inheritance? Honestly, Cathal, I never realised how money hungry you are, but it’s so clear to me now. I feel foolish I didn’t see it sooner.”
His expression morphed into outrage. “How dare you—"
“Cathal,” someone said stiffly, and I became aware that Hannah was standing behind us. From her expression, it was clear she’d heard much of what I just said. Well, at least she was no longer out sick, which left one less thing for me to worry about. “A word,” she went on, gripping his arm and dragging him away.
I stood there, trying to calm down since confrontations always made me stressed. I didn’t even realise that one of the residents, Philomena, was sitting on an armchair nearby and had heard, too.
“I wouldn’t have said money hungry,” she commented. “But he is preoccupied with material things. You can tell by the way he always has the latest techie gadget. I’ve also never known a man to buy so many shoes. He comes in with a new pair on every other week. And don’t even get me started on the hair. We all know those highlights aren’t natural.”
What she said surprised a laugh out of me because she was right, Cathal loved to buy new shoes, and he did always have the latest iPhone or whatever other gadget was trending. Plus, he’d been going to a colourist for years to maintain his sandy shade and cover up the emerging greys. My thoughts went to Jonathan, whose blond hair was peppered with grey, but it only added to his looks in my opinion.
“So,” she went on, a curious gleam in her eyes. “Who bought you the earrings?”
I laughed again and shook my head. “None of your business.”
I heard her chuckling as I continued on my way to my office. Thankfully, almost everyone who’d been out sick had recovered, so I could actually get some of the tasks done that I’d had to put off all week. One such task was tallying the month’s petty cash numbers, and after last time, my stomach was in knots because I really didn’t want to come up short again. Unfortunately, as I was nearing the end of my calculations, I knew there was going to be money missing. So, the thief had struck again, and after my encounter with Cathal that morning, combined with what Jonathan said a while back about it possibly being him, I couldn’t shake the suspicion.
I was a hundred and seven euros short.
Standing from my desk, I went straight to Alf to let him know he needed to review the camera footage from my office. He said he’d get right on it, and I tried to focus on the other work that needed to be done. Whoever had taken that money, the camera sitting on my shelf had surely captured them.
I barely left my office all day, hoping to avoid another run-in with Cathal. It was almost time for me to leave when there was a knock on my door.
“Come in,” I called, and speak of the devil, a second later, Cathal strode in.
“Ada, what you said to me earlier was uncalled for. Hannah heard everything, and now, she’s accusing me of—”
I stood, not in the mood for a single second of whatever tirade he had planned as I blurted, “Have you been stealing from petty cash?”
Cathal stilled, his eyes widening, first in surprise then in outrage. “Excuse me?”
“You heard the question. Have you?”
He blinked, his cheeks turning beet red. “Of course not. I would never do such a thing, and the fact that you’re even asking me is completely out of order. I’m going to have you reported to Head Office.”
All at once, I regretted my impulsive decision to accuse him, but I was just so mad at him and honestly sick of having to deal with his drama when I needed to concentrate on my job. “Well, what you do expect me to think? You’ve been trying to get close to me again after all these years because you thought I was inheriting money. And at the exact same time, significant sums have been going missing from petty cash.”