The Nanny

Blanchard Financials

Warning: This chapter will go back to what happened at Blanchard Financials, especially what happened between Leopold and Regina. This might be a spoiler, but it will deal with graphic depictions of rape. If you need to skip this chapter, I understand. You do what's best for you.

Chapter 18: Blanchard Financials

Eleven years prior...

Regina saved her spreadsheets and started to shut down her computer as she packed up for the night. Her diamond engagement ring sparkled on her left ring finger, making her smile. She was going to leave her office and meet Daniel for dinner to start discussing plans for their wedding. It made her giddy.

She knew her life was charmed. Not yet thirty, she was already in line to be the company's next Chief Financial Officer when her mentor, Edgar Gold, retired in the next five years. And she had only been there for only three years so far! But Gold insisted that she was special and had taken her under his wing early on. Leopold Blanchard, the President and CEO, also took an interest in her and became like a second father to her. Regina was also close to his wife and daughter, Eva and Mary Margaret. They became like the extended family she had always wanted as a child and so she did her best to help the family now that Eva was battling cancer.

It made her thankful that her father was in good health. Even still, she and Daniel had agreed to look at mother-daughter houses so they could move Henry with them. They would still have their privacy, though, and he would have his independence, which seemed the ideal solution to her.

"Regina?" Gold asked, knocking on her doorframe. "Do you have a few minutes? Leo and I need to talk with you."

She frowned. "I'm supposed to meet up with Daniel in a few minutes. Can it wait until morning?"

"I'm afraid not," he said, looking apologetic. So Regina sighed but followed him down the hall to Leo's office.

Leopold Blanchard was an older man, tall and thin, with hair that had long gone white and was thinning. No one mentioned it to him and Regina didn't think it was something that needed to be corrected anyway. He was a shrewd businessman with a fatherly personality, though there was always a glint in his eye that made Regina a bit uncomfortable every now and then. She brushed it off, though, deciding his good points outweighed it.

"Regina," he greeted as she and Gold entered his office. He kissed her cheek. "I haven't seen you all day."

"Well, we were both busy. I hope that's not why I was dragged here and why I'm late meeting with Daniel," she said, sitting down.

Leo shook his head. "I'm afraid not. There was something Gold and I wanted to discuss with you. As you know, Eva's health is getting worse and her medical bills are piling up."

Regina nodded, concerned. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I'm glad you asked that," Leo replied with a devilish grin. "There are a few...transactions...that I am going to need you to do for me. Off the books."

Her gut twisted up. "Off the books? Sir, that doesn't sound legal. That sounds like...well, like you're embezzling from the company."

"It's my company. How can I steal from myself?" Leo reasoned.

She didn't buy it. "You owe the stakeholders. You'd be stealing from them."

Leopold exchanged a look with Gold, one that made her stomach turn and put her on edge. She didn't want to let them down but she also knew that what they were asking her was wrong.