All Chapters of Paid To Pretend, Destined To Love: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Joseph arrived at his office shortly before nine on Tuesday morning. He had barely slept the previous night, partly because of the company's financial problems and partly because of what Benjamin had told him about Rachel. He kept returning to the same details Benjamin provided. It was just an account opened in her name, money traced to it, and a dismissal that had taken place before the investigation was complete. He knew Rachel well enough to believe she would not deliberately steal from the company, but believing her was not the same as proving what had happened. If someone had used her information, he needed to know how they had obtained it and why the money had been sent to that account. He entered his office, greeted his assistant and asked for his schedule. There were only two brief meetings before lunch and a financial review in the afternoon. He intended to keep them all. As CEO, he could not abandon his usual responsibilities and begin questioning employees about Rachel with

She searched his face for the familiar signs of pity. She found none. He was not looking at her as though she were a problem he could solve with a bank transfer. He looked as if her future mattered to him, even the parts that did not include him.“How much help are you talking about?” she asked cautiously.“Send your bank account number to me.”She pulled her hand back slightly. “Why?”“Don’t ask questions, please.” “You want to give me money?” She asked “Let me be clear. It isn't payment for your affection. It doesn't buy your time, and it doesn't mean you owe me anything. You can disagree with me, argue with me, or tell me to leave you alone tomorrow. None of that changes what I'm offering.”Rachel looked at him for a long time.“I don't want to become someone who depends on you for everything.”“Then don't. I only want you to use the money to give yourself a chance to stand on your own feet. You can decide what to do with it. I'm not asking you to hand me control of your life.”A

She walked back to the sofa and sat down. For the first time since their conversation began, she recognised the danger of having involved someone who knew enough to damage her if he chose to do so. She had assumed the money would keep him cooperative. She had not considered what might happen if he began to fear that the promised reward would never arrive.“How much are you asking for?” she said.“The remaining balance. Exactly what we agreed.”“I don't have it available right now.”“That's your problem, not mine.” Torres replied “I can make another payment when I have the money.”“When?”“I'll tell you.”“No. Give me a date.”Vanessa stared at the wall opposite her. She could afford to pay him the full amount now, but she was unwilling to hand over more money while Joseph continued investigating. If Torres received everything he wanted, he might decide that his involvement had ended and disappear when she needed him most. Keeping some of the payment back gave her leverage, or so she

Isabel entered with a pleasant smile and a small bag hanging from her arm. She looked composed, as she always did, and carried herself with the confidence of someone who had never needed to ask twice for a room's attention.“You look busy,” she remarked.“I am busy and I've always been busy, mother.” “Your assistant said you have been buried in financial reports for days. I thought I would come and see whether you were taking proper care of yourself.”Joseph gestured towards the chair opposite him. “You could have called.”“I could have, but then you might have told me you were too busy to speak.” She sat down and placed her bag beside her. “Have you had lunch?”“Yes.”“Something proper, I hope?”“Mother.”She laughed softly. “All right. I won't interrogate you about your meals. How are things going?”“Work is demanding.”“That much is obvious.” Her eyes moved briefly towards the papers on his desk. “Is this related to the missing funds your father mentioned the last time??”“Some of

Cynthia had never considered herself a suspicious person. She believed in doing her work, and keeping her opinions to herself unless someone asked for them. Office life was complicated enough without assuming every mistake was deliberate. Yet, since Rachel's dismissal, she had found it increasingly difficult to ignore the inconsistencies surrounding the incidents that had led to it. At first, she had accepted that the company was investigating a serious matter. Money had been traced to a bank account bearing Rachel's name, and confidential information had apparently been used without authorisation. Cynthia understood why management had taken the situation seriously. What troubled her was how quickly the earlier incidents had become evidence against Rachel, even though no one had shown her anything that conclusively established that Rachel was responsible.She was sorting through some archived departmental documents on Thursday morning when she noticed a discrepancy in the access regis