The blonde saleswoman’s face turned white as she slowly stepped backward.
“Wait…” the owner said. “Why are you leaving?”
“I… I just remembered I have somewhere to be,” the blonde stammered.
Two police officers entered the boutique.
“We’re looking for an employee named Victoria,” one officer announced.
The blonde froze.
“That’s me.”
The officer held up several documents.
“We traced the stolen money to an account opened under your name.”
The blonde’s knees nearly gave out.
“I can explain!”
The owner crossed her arms.
“Then explain.”
Tears filled the blonde’s eyes.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”
The customers listened in shock.
Months earlier, Victoria had discovered that another executive was stealing money from the company. Afraid she would lose her job if she reported him, she accepted money to stay silent.
But when the executive disappeared, all the evidence pointed to her.
The owner stared at her for a long moment.
“So you helped hide the crime?”
Victoria nodded.
The police escorted her away.
As she reached the door, she turned around.
“The real thief is still out there,” she said.
“What do you mean?” asked the owner.
Victoria pointed toward a framed photograph hanging on the wall.
A photograph of the company’s executive board.
One face was missing.
“The person who stole everything…” she whispered, “is your brother.”
The owner’s eyes widened.
The boutique erupted in gasps.
Her brother had disappeared six months earlier.
Everyone thought he was dead.
Then the owner’s phone rang.
A private number.
She answered.
A familiar voice spoke.
“Hello, sister.”
Her heart stopped.
“I hear you’ve been looking for me.”
The call disconnected.
The owner slowly lowered the phone.
He was alive.
And he had all the money.
