Colorblind [h.s]

6

You know when your parents catch you underage drinking or your professor calls you out in class? Yeah. That's what this feels like.

They're totally going to torture me and force me to die a horrible death.

I swallow, trying to control my breathing. "What are you talking about? I don't even remember what I saw or what I was even looking at."

Please believe me, please believe me, please believe me.

Louis stares at me across the table and puts both elbows down, resting his balled up fists under his chin. "Bullshit."

I force the giant lump in my throat down, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.

"What?"

Louis offers up just about the fakest smile I've ever seen. "Bull. Shit," he repeats.

This is it, Violet. This is when you beg the scary men for your life.

"I swear it's no-" I start.

"But it is, love," Zayn cuts me off. "We know you go to Stanford, obviously. We know you're a business major there, focusing on finance and accounting. And we know that you took IRS Law as an elective class your sophomore year and it just so happens that you got an A in it."

"Such a smart girl, aren't we?" Niall chimes in. "Well now you pay the price for being so stupid."

I wonder if he intentionally made a money pun.

Focus, Violet.

Okay, now you know when you get caught in a lie and have to scramble together another lie but the pressure is too much? That's exactly what is happening to me right now.

And the pressure's on.

"I'm not going to sit here and lie," I start after taking a moment to come up with an excuse.

"That's a first," Niall scoffs.

I choose to ignore his comment. "Yes, I am a business major at Stanford, and yes, I did take an IRS Law class, but as an elective. It was just a stupid GPA booster," I lie through my teeth.

"We thought you might say something like that," Louis says, his chin still propped up on his fists. "Oh-for-two with the lying, Violet. I went ahead and did a little research. Although school grades aren't public record, that's not enough to stop you, or anyone else's personal information from being looked at."

How the hell could he have accessed my grades?

"Okay, so what? I'm somewhat smart and I care about school. Was it wrong of me to snoop in the back room of the winery? Yes, it was. But just because I saw some books that alluded to money laundering doesn't mean I'm going to accuse you guys of doing it." I cross my arms. "I didn't even tell anyone, so why bring me here against my will, make me a nice dinner, and then interrogate me?"

"I'm so glad you asked," Liam answers. "As I'm sure our little genius knows, there are three key parts to washing dirty money. Placement, which are our businesses,"

Businesses. Plural. What other businesses do they run? What could possibly hide the criminal activity this well?

I know Harry owns Through the Grapevine, but I truly am at a loss for the rest of them. They live in a literal mansion, can afford top-notch booze and five-star worthy dinners, and they all drive extremely expensive cars.

I know they launder money, but what's the front? Harry's wine business sure as shit isn't enough to keep the feds away.

"Layering, which is us putting in illegal money into the legitimate businesses' cash flow," Liam continues.

"And integration. Your dirty money comes back to you squeaky clean," I finish for him.

"Look at you, Violet. So educated on criminal activity," he grins.   

"Okay, yeah I know how money laundering works. That's basically common knowledge. I'm just a bit confused on where I come into play. I have no idea what businesses you guys own besides Harry's, but it seems to me that you guys have all the bases covered so, can I go?" I ask.

What are the odds they let me go? Slim to none.

I look around at them and watch as Niall, Liam, Louis, and Zayn start to laugh.

Harry's been silent for a while. He won't even look in my general direction.

I stare at them, leading my mind to wander to what they could possibly expect me to do.

My thoughts are interrupted by Niall.

"Time to deal some drugs, baby."