The story I told you about Tim and me getting into a bar fight? That was a lie,” Nate said after Monica arrived. “Lewis and his friend Freddy, I don’t know if you know him, they jumped me, right outside, while Nathaniel was still in the car. They beat me pretty badly.”
“No!” Monica gasped. “Why would they do that?”
“Ever since our meeting, Lewis had been accusing me of trying to get you back. And although I did want you, I never came to him with that. But he wouldn’t let it go. He would call my office, threatening me. He would e-mail me photos, trying to let me know—”
“E-mailed you photos?” Monica interrupted. “What kind of photos?”
Nate walked over to his computer, opened up his photo software. “I didn’t say anything to you because I figured he was just going through something, and I didn’t want to start anything between the two of you, but…,” Nate said, clicking on the attachment, opening up the three still photos Lewis had sent of him and Monica having sex.
Upon seeing them, Monica threw her hand over her mouth, shocked. “Oh my God,” she winced.
Nate moved the mouse, clicked on another file to open it, and said, “There’s more.”
He opened up the video player, clicked the play button, and the video of Monica having sex with Lewis began to play. “Oh, no!” Monica said, even more overwhelmed. “Turn it off. Please!”
Nate did as he was asked. “I didn’t want to show you those. But after what he just did, I figured you needed to know what was going on.”
“I’m so sorry, Nate,” Monica said, looking as embarrassed as he had ever seen her. “But you said he put a gun to your head.”
Nate pulled the towel he was pressing to his forehead away and showed Monica the blood that oozed from the wound Lewis had given him. “And he stole fifty thousand dollars from my safe.”
“That doesn’t sound like Lewis.”
“I have hidden surveillance cameras throughout my house and office. I have the proof if you want to see it.”
“No,” Monica said. “But why would he take money from you?
“I don’t know. Maybe he gambles. Maybe he owes someone and they’re threatening his life. But one thing I asked myself, if he’d steal from me, what would stop him from stealing from you?”
“What?” Monica said, sounding dismayed at the very idea that it could be true.
“I know you don’t want to believe it, but when was the last time you checked your accounts?”
“I don’t know. The day we went to see the building. He’s bought some things without telling me right away. But he wouldn’t take that kind of money without informing me. He just wouldn’t.”
Nate stepped out from behind his computer. “I’m not saying that he did, but go online. Just check to make sure.”
Monica quickly took Nate’s place behind the keyboard and started busily tapping away at the keys. She grabbed the mouse, moved it about, clicking it frantically, then stopped, focusing her eyes on the screen, and said, “Oh my God! There was a fifty thousand dollar withdrawal almost a week ago.”
“It was him, Monica. It was Lewis.”
“No.”
Nate grabbed Monica by the shoulders. “What do you want to do? I told you, I have proof. Normally I would go to the police with this, but because this is your fiancé, if you want to just work this out with him yourself, I’ll let you do that. But you have to do something.”
Monica paid little attention to what Nate was saying, still not believing that Lewis would do this to her.
“Monica! Do I call the police, or do you want to handle this?”
Monica focused on Nate. “I’ll do it.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No,” Monica said. “That’ll just make things worse.”
“Then you should call the police. He has a gun.”
Monica stood, grabbed her purse from the desk.” I don’t know,” she said, looking uncertain about just what her next move would be. “I have to think. But I’ll handle this, and I’ll get your money back. I promise.”
Nate pulled Monica into him, giving her a hug. “I’m sorry all this had to happen.”
“Me, too.”