37

Chase sat in his high backed leather chair with a stack of documents spread across the table surface.

He rubbed his temples as he looked at the figures on the screen. He was already on edge.

The tension with his father was at an all time high and Giselle disappearance and his fathers intrusion had left him feeling like he was losing his grip on his own sanity.

His secretary tapped on the glass door and stepped inside without waiting for an invite. She held a tablet to her chest and looked at him in a way that didn't quite hide her fatigue.

“Sir the partners from the Sterling Group are in the conference room. They are expecting a briefing on the final logistics for the registration. Shall I tell them you are ready to receive them now?”

Chase sighed and reached for his suit jacket. “Tell them I will be there in five minutes. Make sure the coffee is hot and that they have the updated copies of the—“

He stopped mid sentence. His phone which was sitting face up on the desk began to vibrate. Then it chimed. Then it chimed again.

A series of notifications began to flash across the screen in rapid succession.

He frowned and picked up the device. His eyes widened as he read the first alert.

A debit of five million dollars at Opulencia. He blinked thinking it was a mistake.

Then another alert flashed. Seven million dollars.

Then ten million. The numbers kept climbing. Fifteen million. Twenty million.

Within sixty seconds his phone was a barrage of financial alerts that totaled over thirty million.

He froze. The blood drained from his face and his hand began to shake.

“Sir?”The secretary asked. “Is everything alright?”

Chase didn't look up. He felt a cold sweat breaking out at the base of his neck. “Hold on.”He snapped.

“Just stay right there and hold on.”

He ignored the secretary and swiped the screen to open his contacts. He dialed Monica’s number with a trembling thumb. She picked up on the second ring sounding breathy and cheerful”

“Hey baby”. She purred. “I was just thinking about that watch we saw in the—“

“Have you lost your mind?” Chase roared into the receiver. His voice was so loud the secretary actually stepped back toward the door. “Have you absolutely lost your mind Monica?”

“What are you talking about?” She asked. Her voice went from playful to defensive in a second. “Why are you yelling at me Chase?”

“Thirty million dollars!” He screamed. He stood up and began to pace the small area behind his desk.

“ You just spent over thirty million dollars in a single hour at Opulencia! I told you to enjoy yourself but I didn't tell you to bankrupt me in one fine morning! What could you possibly buy that costs that much? Did you buy the entire store?”

“Chase what on earth are you talking about?” Monica’s voice sounded genuine in its confusion. “I am at home. I am literally in my bathrobe eating a salad. I haven't even left the house today. And for your information you have never spent that much on me in the three years we have been together. I wish I had thirty million dollars worth of shopping but I don't.”

Chase stopped pacing. His heart was hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. “You haven't been to Opulencia today? You haven't touched the blaco card I gave you?”

“No!” Monica snapped. “Check your alerts again. Maybe someone stole your identity. But don't you dare blame me for spending money I haven't even seen.”

Chase ended the call without saying goodbye. He stood there for a moment staring at the wall. If it wasn't Monica then who was it?

He grabbed the desk phone and punched in the direct line for his private account officer.

“This is Chase Hemingway.” He said as soon as the man picked up. “Why is there a thirty million dollar hole in my platinum account? Explain it to me right now.

“Mr. Hemingway.” The officer said. He sounded calm which only made Chase more furious.

“We were just about to flag those transactions for a courtesy call. The purchases were all made at Opulencia within the last ninety minutes. They were fully authorized using the black platinum card.”

Authorized by who? Chase hissed.

“The signature on the digital receipt matches the secondary cardholder on the account. Mrs. Giselle Hemingway.” The officer paused. “Sir is there a problem? Did you perhaps misplace the card? If the charges are fraudulent we can place an immediate hold on the account.”

Chase felt a vein throb in his forehead. He could see the secretary watching him with wide eyes. He turned his back to her.

“No.” He gritted through his teeth. “Don't place a hold. I will call you back.”

He hung up the phone and stood in the silence of his office for a heartbeat. The audacity. The sheer unmitigated gall of that woman to spend a fortune on his credit.

He began to pack the files on his desk into his briefcase with violent motions.

He didn't care about the meetings. He didn't care about the Sterling Group.

He wanted to get home to ask his Dad for giselles location and he wanted to rip that card out of her if he could.

The secretary stepped forward as he headed for the door. “Sir? What about the meeting? The partners have been waiting for twenty minutes. They are very important to the registration process.”

Chase stopped and looked at her. His eyes were wild with fury. “Move the meeting! He yelled. Move it to another damn time! Cancel it! I don't care!”

“But sir they traveled from London—“

“I said move it!” He barked. He pushed past her and stormed into the hallway.