Chapter 70

Carol’s POV

“Miss Miller, is it true you stole $100,000 from the Statford Freeze funding account?” One of the reporters asked just as I was blinded by the lights of the cameras.

“Are you using the Cruz family for their fortune?”

“Did you lie about being Aiden’s fated mate??”

I can feel panic rising in my chest like bile as Aiden took hold of my hand and guided me through the paparazzi. He murmured some quick responses to get them to back off as we made our way to the front desk.

The hotel clerk perks up when she sees Aiden approaching.

“Mr. Cruz. We have been expecting you and got you all checked in,” she says, sliding over a couple of key cards in our direction.

He thanks her and then he guides me away and toward the elevator. The paparazzi followed us until we reached the elevator and then the hotel’s security appeared, stopping them from following us any further.

Once we were secured in the elevator, I let out a breath of relief as I leaned against Joseph.

“When will this mess be over,” I complained, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me.

“Soon,” he assures me. “We are going to find proof that you are innocent and then everything will be okay again. I promise.”

I nod and stand on my toes so I can kiss him. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him and I deepen the kiss. I let my tongue swipe across his bottom lip and wedge between his lips. The kiss escalated further than I meant it to, but it stopped short as soon as I heard the dinging of the elevator and the doors slid open.

I pulled away from him, feeling breathless and flushed.

Aiden winked at me as he grabbed our bags and led me down the hall until we reached the room that was listed on the key cards.

We spent most of the night going over the plan again. Aiden called Oliver and let him in on the plan as well.

“Yeah, I can definitely hack into her phone,” Oliver assures us. “But you’ll have to distract her so I can do that.”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll figure out something that’ll pull her away from her phone,” Aiden replies. “I really appreciate the help.”

“Anytime. Can’t wait to see you guys tomorrow!” He says just before he hangs up.

I snuggle against Aiden for the rest of the night. Now that he is mostly healed from his injury, I had the thought of making love to him and showing him just how much I missed his mobility. But I’m too exhausted and I have way too much anxiety for tomorrow. If we aren’t able to find the proof we need, this entire thing could end up blowing up in our faces.

Aiden already informed Coach and Mr. Whitlock of our plan and they both think we are insane for putting ourselves in danger like this. But Aiden thinks we will be fine because this is his family and friends.

I hardly slept a wink the entire night. We woke up early the next morning so we could get breakfast downstairs. I’m glad to see that the paparazzi were gone and all that was left were just a few rich people who were seated in the dining hall of the hotel.

A few wandering eyes caught my attention and my cheeks immediately flushed. I know what everyone thinks of me, but I hate knowing that these people are part of Aiden’s world. Was I so wrong for wanting them to like me?

After breakfast, Aiden and I go into town and shop around the boutique. The nasty looks the store clerk gives me do not go unnoticed.

“Just ignore her,” Aiden whispers to me.

Once he pays for the dress I chose, the store clerk gives me an “Are you kidding me,” look and my cheeks are instantly wracked with heat. I can’t even look her in the eyes as we leave the boutique.

We get back to the hotel and I can already see that the lobby is growing busier with those who are preparing for Oliver’s big party. The paparazzi are also back, though they aren’t allowed to cross over a certain line thanks to the extra security in the lobby.

We managed to get back to the elevator without anyone noticing and we return to the hotel. The party was only a few hours away, and as time went on, the more nervous I got. Aiden tried to reassure me again that everything was going to be okay.

I take a deep breath, trying to settle my unsteady nerves.

I get dressed in the new dress and I curl my hair lightly, allowing it to cascade around my shoulders. I put on a little makeup to bring out my features and then I left the bathroom to join Aiden in the living room portion of our room.

It didn’t take him nearly as long to get dressed as it did for me. He is dressed in a suit and his hair is combed neatly out of his face.

“You look beautiful,” he breathes as he wraps me in his arms.

I let him kiss me once, but I pull away before he can deepen the kiss.

“Don’t ruin my makeup,” I chuckle.

He smiles against my lips and nods as he takes me by the hand and we head downstairs and to the party. Paparazzi were swarming the outside of the party room, trying ot get anybody and everybody to speak to them. Aiden successfully inside the room without too much hassle on their part.

My mouth fell open at the sight of the party room. It is huge and music is blaring everywhere. There was a live DJ in the front of the room and there had to be hundreds of people in this room. I can smell the delicious scents of food coming from somewhere, though I can’t figure out where.

There are a couple of bars as well with lines that practically go out the door.

It didn’t take long to find Oliver. He is surrounded by people and he’s laughing at whatever a girl is saying. It’s obvious that he’s flirting with her, but he stops as soon as he sees us approaching.

“I saw Katrina around here somewhere,” he tells us, keeping his voice low for our ears only. “Do you want to get it over with and just do this now?”

Aiden nods as he tightens his hold around my waist.

“It’s probably for the best,” Aiden agrees.

Oliver nods and then he looks at me, flashing me an award-winning smile he says, “You look gorgeous as always, Carol.”

Aiden lets out a low growl for warning.

“Watch yourself. You might be my best friend, but I’ll tear your throat out in a heartbeat,” Aiden says in a low and threatening tone.

Oliver holds his hands up in surrender.

“Noted,” Oliver says, taking a step back. “It was just a compliment.”

I put my hand on Aiden’s chest.

“Maybe don’t threaten the guy who’s helping us?” I ask, a smile playing on my lips.

Aiden sighs, his body relaxing.

“Sorry, I’m just on edge,” he murmurs.

“I get it,” Oliver replies. Then his eyes spot something behind us. “Looks like this might be easier than I thought.”

We both turn to see Katrina making her way over to us; she flips her long blond hair over her shoulders and peeks up at Aiden through her long lashes.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Aiden,” she said, batting her lashes. Then her eyes find me, and she snarls. “What the hell is this criminal doing here?”

“That’s enough, Katrina,” Aiden says, taking a step-in front of me.

“But she stole money from your hockey team, Aiden,” Katrina whines. “You can’t seriously still be defending her.”

“She’s my mate,” he reminds her. “I will always defend her.”

She growls, her eyes blazing yellow in the same way that Aiden’s eyes do when he’s about to lose control of his wolf. I took a step back, worried about what she might do.

“You are being ridiculous,” she mutters. “She’s no good for you and you know it. How much more proof do you need?”

Aiden looks like he’s about to tell her off again, but then Oliver clears his throat, reminding him of the plan.

Aiden sighs and forces a smile.

“How about we go talk about it somewhere? Did you reserve a table?”

“Of course, I did,” Katrina says as she wraps an arm through his. She glares at me as she does so, and Aiden pulls her away and toward the table.

Oliver gives me an encouraging smile and we follow at a distance. We watch as Katrina sits at her table; there’s nobody else at the table and Aiden sits beside her. I hate their close proximity, but I know this is part of the plan. She puts her purse on the back of her chair, and she turns to talk to him about something.

I can’t hear what they are saying between all the loud music and the chattering of those around us, but whatever it is, I can tell Aiden is aggravated. I assume she’s probably talking about me. Aiden spots me watching from a distance and he gives me a small reassuring smile before he turns to Katrina.

He says something to her, and her face lit up. Soon, she was pulling Aiden to the dance floor and leaving her purse behind.

“Now’s our chance,” Oliver says quickly as he rushes towards the now abandoned table.

I follow closely behind him. Oliver has Katrina’s phone in his hand before I even reach the table. I’m impressed that it doesn’t take him long to get into her account.

“It was her birthday. She’s predictable,” Oliver explains. “So, what are we looking for?”

“Any banking apps,” I say. “Maybe one she doesn’t use often. I can’t imagine she would use her personal primary one.”

He nods as he searches through her phone. I check back on the dance floor and see that she’s pressed up against Aiden who looks very uncomfortable.

“And hurry,” I mutter.

“Here’s one that was downloaded recently,” he says. “Give me a few minutes to hack into it; her birthday isn’t working on this one.”

I waited with bated breath for him to figure out the new code.

“Got it!” He says after a couple of minutes.

“Hurry, the song is about to end,” I tell him.

I look back at Oliver and I watch as his face falls.

“What is it?” I ask.

“She… she deposited $100,000 in her account last week and then withdrew it…”

“What?” I gasped.

I knew there was a possibility of finding something, but part of me didn’t think we actually would. Cleary Oliver didn’t either because he looked stunned.

He faces the phone at me so I can see that he is correct. She deposited $100,000 into this account and then a check was cashed a few days later. The source of deposit is listed as “Private Funding.”

“Can you send that to me?” I asked, suddenly feeling overwhelmed and angry at the same time.

“Already on it,” he says, sounding just as upset.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” I whip around to see Katrina marching towards us.