Page 157 of Sugar & Shadows

“There’s more,” she said.

Gabe squeezed my hand.

“Sources suggest Monroe violated ethical protocols and fiduciary duty, which led to significant investor losses. We can exclusively report several aggrieved parties are preparing legal action.”

My stomach dropped.

“I’ve got to go.” Without waiting for a response, I ended the call.

“What do we do?” Gabe asked.

I studied his handsome, concerned face. This was a man who cared. Who put everyone else’s needs above his own.

“You do nothing,” I said firmly, opening the door. “This is political suicide. Stay far away. Focus on your recall. Campaign, kiss babies, shake hands, whatever.” I shook my head. “This is my problem. I’ll deal with it.”

“Sabrina, no.” He unbuckled his seat belt. “I’m not leaving you like this.”

Standing outside the door, I shook my head. “I need to go think. Alone.”

His face fell.

“I’ll call you later. This is just…” I trailed off as images of our amazing day together flashed through my mind. I’d been so content here for the past few weeks. I should have known it wouldn’t last. The other shoe was always going to drop. “What I deserve.”

I shut the door and walked into my mother’s house, but Gabe was quick, jumping out of the Jeep and following me up the walkway.

“They can’t sue you,” he said, leaving the driver’s side door open. “Whistleblowers are protected.”

I smiled at him. This man was so naïve. Always believing in good.

“It’s a bit more nuanced,” I explained. “And this is the playbook. When you lose control of the truth, you go after the person who revealed it.”

He stared at me, his jaw tight. “But⁠—”

“I wrote the playbook, Gabe. Remember?” I pointed to myself. “Bad guy.”

“That is bullshit,” he said, his eyes flaring with anger. “That’s not who you are. This is just someone trying to fuck with you. To intimidate you.”

“They want me to regret it,” I said, willing myself not to break into sobs. “But I don’t. I just wish Maplewood wasn’t caught in the crosshairs. Because this is what happens when people do the right thing.” Woodenly, I walked to the door. “Go home, Gabe,” I said as I turned the lock.

When I shut the door, he was still standing there, staring.

Chapter 41

Sabrina

The first process server arrived the next morning. I clocked him immediately. Bland man, bland sedan, bland manilla envelope.

Not Eastgate. No, they couldn’t. Not with the feds currently investigating.

Blackbriar Capital Ventures.

Meg had warned me that this would likely happen. Investors had lost hundreds of millions after the leak, not counting the secondary lawsuits once the cancer reports became public.

She picked up on the first ring.

“Read it to me,” she said, like she’d seen the man himself.

“Breach of confidentiality.” I scanned the papers. I was all too familiar with legal filings. “Tortious interference, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and a few statutory securities claims.”