Chapter 13
It took Trinity a few minutes to realize that no one was meeting her eyes as she made her way to her office. She knew she wasn't the company's darling, but she at least got a few hellos every morning either from the receptionist or someone passing, but this morning, nothing. It was as if she didn't exist.
Perhaps someone had seen her car at Levi's house. It was unlikely since his house is on private property in the middle of nowhere, but what else could it be. She sat her coffee down next to her computer and fired it up, waiting for it to boot as she removed her jacket and scarf.
Trinity looked outside the window at the cold and shivered as she picked up her coffee and took a sip. Her thoughts immediately went to Levi and the fact that he had kissed her the night before. She had never had a kiss like it. The fact that he wanted her was still hard for her to wrap her mind around. Christopher had pretended that he wanted her until he got her. Then he had done everything in his power to let her know how much he didn't want her.
Deep down, Trinity knew it was Christopher and not her, but after eight years of abuse that she had started to believe was hard to erase. Her thoughts went back to Levi, and she wondered if she should have stayed, although he had seemed to want her to go. Did he regret it? What would she say to him when she saw him again.
Work, that what she would talk about, she would keep it work-related. Trinity moved towards her desk and sat down in front of her computer, opening up the finance program. When she entered her login, she got an error message. Frowning, she tried again only to get the same message.
Why was she locked out? She reached for the phone and called the IT department. Roger answered the phone, and when she identified herself, she was met with silence.
"Roger, I asked you why I can't log in this morning?"
"A direct order from Mr. Shaw. He said he wanted all of your usernames and passwords deleted." Robert's voice was full of disgust, and she was at a loss as to why. She thought about asking him why but thought better of it. To do that would show weakness, and he wasn't her problem.
Angry, Trinity hung up the phone without saying goodbye then pushed back from her desk, heading for the door, and running into Rita and Josiah as she entered the hallway. She held up her hand to stop them before either one of them could say anything.
She was livid. If Levi had a problem with her, he should have taken it up with her in private and not humiliated her by going behind her back. She didn't get angry often, but when she did, all rational thought fled.
Marching down the hallway to Levi's office, she threw open the door to his inner sanctum and breezed by Shana.
"He's with someone, Ms. Emerson," Shana drawled with condescension.
Trinity turned to her and shot her a look full of such anger that the woman took a step back and didn't say another word.
She missed Josiah and Rita shooting each other concerned looks as she threw open the door to Levi's office. He was standing by the window with his back to the room, and Dorthy was talking a mile a minute, but he didn't appear to be listening. At the sound of Trinity's entrance, he turned around, looking at her, Rita, and Josiah.
It appeared as if he had been about to smile, but it quickly turned into a frown as he took in Trinity's agitated state. Then he looked to Rita and Josiah for answers, but they both shook their heads, clueless.
"If you wanted me gone, the least you could have done was told me to my face." Trinity spat.
Rita quickly closed the door behind her so that Shana couldn't hear.
"What are you talking about Trinity?" he asked, appearing to be his usual calm self.
"I couldn't log in to the accounting program this morning. When I called down to ask Roger about it, he informed me that you told him to erase all of my information." Trinity was so angry she was shaking. Levi had said he didn't want to fire her. Unless something had changed, did he regret the kiss that much?
"I didn't tell Roger to do any such thing," Levi said, walking over to the phone and calling IT himself. His eyes darted to Dorthy as she tried to make it to the door, and he nodded to Josiah, who held out an arm to block her.
"Please restore all of Ms. Emerson's information and erase all of Ms. Carter's," he barked as he slammed down the phone. Now he was angry, and it was all directed at Dorthy.
Trinity had never seen Levi angry, and he seemed to double in size before her very eyes. Part of her was mesmerized at the sight, but the wounded part of her cringed in response. It felt as if she was loosing her mind.
"Explain," he ordered Dorthy.
"It's just that, here look," she reached into her purse. "This came in the mail. There is one for me and one for Trinity." Dorthy handed two envelopes to Levi. Trinity could make out the handwriting on hers, and she recognized it. It was a distinctive T.
"Is mine open?" Trinity asked, all her anger leaving her in a flash as dread filled her.
Levi handed it to her, and she noted that it was still sealed and closed her eyes in relief.
"I take it you know who they are from?" Levi asked, opening Dorthy's envelope.
"Christopher," she said softly.
Levi's eyes snapped to her pale face before he turned his attention back to the paper in his hand. It was the newspaper article calling Trinity a killer.
"Who did you tell about this?" Levi asked, his voice deadly calm. It was so calm it was frightening, and Trinity couldn't help herself as she took a step away for the situation and towards the door.
"Ummm...a few people, but that's why I told Roger to delete all Trinity's accounts. She murdered someone! She can't work here! She should be in jail!"
"Of course, she didn't kill anyone, you moron!" Josiah snorted. "There's one born every minute."
Trinity took a shaky breath, his support meaning more then he would ever know.
"What you have done is a breach of the company's confidentiality contract and it is terms for automatic dismissal," Rita informed her.
"It's a public article that anyone can find!" Dorthy denied.
"It's slanderous for you to accuse her of murder when there is no proof and she hasn't been charged!" Rita countered.
"But I didn't kill anyone!" Dorthy objected.
"You should have brought your concerns to any one of us in this room, not taken matters into your own hands, and you definitely should not have told anyone outside of this room what was in this envelope," Levi's voice was hard and sent a shiver down Trinity's spine.
He handed Trinity the envelope. "As of this moment, your job here is terminated. I will escort you off the premises myself." Levi walked across the room and held open the door.
"It's not fair!" I didn't kill anyone!" she cried again. When Levi didn't budge, she sailed past him with her head held high.
"All of you wait here!" he ordered.
When the door closed behind him, Trinity handed Josiah and Rita the newspaper article and then walked over to the leather sofa in the corner and sank into it, closing her eyes.
There was silence as Rita and Josiah read the article, but she was too afraid to open her eyes and see their reaction.
When she felt them sit next to her on the couch, one to either side and Rita take her hand, she felt a teardrop fall down her cheek. No one said a word. They sat there, offering her support until Levi returned.
When Levi did return, he slammed the door behind him, and Trinity jumped. She would have run if Rita and Josiah hadn't been holding her in place.
"I'm sorry," Trinity whispered. "This is all my fault. I'll tender my resignation effective immediately."
Levi paced, working out his anger. "Did you read your letter?" Levi asked, nodding to the envelope in her hand.
Trinity shook her head as she started to open it with shaky hands, her breathing shallow. What was it she had told herself about Christopher not holding any power over her? Obviously, she had been wrong if a letter sent her into a quivering mess.
I told you it wouldn't be that easy.
That was all it said. Trinity held it out for Levi to read, and he frowned when he saw it.
"Why?" Levi asked.
"He wants me home. He thought the article would be enough, but it wasn't so he's forcing the issue. He hopes you will fire me, and I will be forced to go home." She stood up, suddenly feeling smothered by Rita and Josiah's closeness.
"By the information in the article, I take it this Christopher is your ex-husband?" Josiah asked.
"Yes," Trinity said, crossing her arms across her body as she had an uncomfortable thought. "What if he's here!" She looked at Levi in a panic. "He'll kill me, he's almost done it before!" she said, sure of her words. "I have to go!" She rushed for the door, but Levi caught her arm, stopping her.
"No, you won't. You'll stay here. This is your home." Levi insisted
"The business, having me here will kill it," Trinity said.
"No pun intended," Josiah said with a strained smile. "Sorry," he said when Trinity grew pale at his words.
"What am I going to do?" Trinity whispered.
"You're going to let us help you!" Rita said, standing up, all business. "I'm going to call my husband right now and have him see who is new in town. There are only a few places that your ex could be staying if he was here." Rita walked over to Trinity and pulled her close, but not before Trinity could see the tears in her eyes.
"This explains a lot, and I think you are one of the bravest women I know." Rita stepped back and held Trinity's face in her hands. "We love you, sweetheart." Then all business again, she turned. "Come on, Josiah. We need to figure out some stuff."
Josiah got the hint and stood. He walked over to Trinity and wrapped her in a tight hug. "We need you. You're the only one who can control Levi."
When they had gone, Levi motioned to the couch, and they both sat as silence surrounded them.
"You have to go home, Trinity. It's the only way." Levi's voice was soft. "Not to stay," he said at her look of concern. "At least I hope not, you're needed here too much, but you have to face him. Let him know he has no power over you. It's the only way to get him to back off." Levi reached out and pulled her close, and she buried her head in his shoulder.
"But he does. I thought I won the other day. I realized that I never loved him, and that made him powerless over me, but here I am, falling to pieces because of a note."
Levi squeezed her. "I don't think it can be as easy as that. I think you found a piece to healing, but there are a few more to go yet, and facing him on his turf is one of those pieces."
"I can't," she shook her head like a small child.
"You can, and I'll be with you," he promised.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide. "You would do that?"
"Yes. I'll go with you. I have always wanted to see Georgia." He gave her another squeeze, then sat her up and handed her a handkerchief.
Trinity laughed. "You'll fit right in with all of the southern gentlemen. I didn't know anyone carried them anymore." She wiped her eyes.
"Here, let me," he said as he took the handkerchief and wiped the smudges under her eyes. "I want you to stay with me tonight."
Trinity tensed at his words.
"I have a guestroom with a lock on the door. Your honor is safe." He handed her the handkerchief and stood, holding out his hand. "Until we know that Christopher isn't in town, you don't need to be on your own, alright?" He lifted her chin.
"Alright, what about work?"
"Are you trying to con your way into a day off?" he teased.
"No, but my being here might be awkward," she reasoned.
"Roger is restoring your logon information. I think a day behind your desk acting as if nothing is wrong will be the best thing." Levi waited for her to stand, and then placed his hand in the small of her back, walking her to the door of his office.
"Walk back to your office with your head held high, Trinity. You did nothing wrong." He gave her a hard, quick kiss, then grinned. "You know you're beautiful when you're angry."
"That's harassment!" Trinity squeaked.
"Maybe I should chase you around the desk to make it official?" he winked as he opened the door and pushed her through it.
He had planned it, the devil. Trinity couldn't help the small smile that played around her lips as he walked by Shana and down the hall to her office. She could still feel the pressure of his lips against hers.
Levi had said he would go with her. Trinity took a shaky breath. She could do this.
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