Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“We can certainly double-check.”
I don’t feel safe with my friends now, but I’m not going after any of them until I have definitive proof. “We need to be as sure as we are that water is wet. And then we need to triple-check.”
I haven’t told Aarvi about Tristan. But something about that situation didn’t sit well with me.
“Ever heard of Tristan Dubrow?” I ask.
“The hacker?” Aarvi asks. “Of course. He’s a legend.”
“Apparently Efa enlisted his help.”
“Wow. He doesn’t come cheap. How did she even know how to get in contact with him? It’s not like he’s got an enquiry form on his website.”
“A friend of the family, apparently.”
“That’s a big favor to call in.”
I push out a breath. So far, what Efa has said is consistent with what Aarvi’s saying. Maybe Efa’s concocting some elaborate hoax, but my gut says she’s told me the truth.
It doesn’t mean my anger with her has waned. It hasn’t. She should have told me what she was doing. I expect honesty from the people I’m close with. And especially from her.
She understands why people being who they say they are is so important to me. And still she went behind my back. God only knows how long she’s had this theory about one of my inner circle betraying me. Why wouldn’t she come to me? Why wouldn’t she say? I’m mad Aarvi didn’t tell me, but that’s a professional disappointment. Efa not saying anything cuts deeper.
“You’re convinced he’s one of the good guys?” I ask.
“Who really knows, but his reputation is for saving the day. He’s like a hacker superhero. They say he’s prevented Russia from doing all sort of nefarious things to western governments.”
I roll my eyes. A hacker superhero? “Why have I never heard of him?”
Aarvi laughs. “Coming from you? The ultimate hidden man? Anyway, it’s different. Hackers don’t want people knowing their identity.”
“Set things up for Monday. Then we’ll see where we are.”
“I’ll get the security checks run and set everything up for Monday…” She’s got something else she wants to say. I hate it when my team don’t speak freely. That’s what got us into this mess in the first place. I need people around me who don’t treat me as the boss. As the billionaire. That’s part of what had attracted me to Efa—she didn’t give a shit about my wealth or status. But she had a different agenda.
“What, Aarvi?” I snap. “You have to tell me everything.”
“I was just going to say that I’d happily stake money on the fact that Efa is on our side.”
I can’t think about that now. I just want to focus on catching whoever it is that’s attacking Fort.
I need to know, not just believe, who I can trust.
TWENTY-NINE
Efa
As I take the staff lift to the Park Suite, I can’t help but wonder if any of the other housekeeping staff has a side gig? I’ve been trying to track down a hacker going after one of the most successful companies in American corporate history. Maybe Jose and Jackie, who work the executive rooms, have a sideline dealing shares in corporate bonds.
My stomach flips as the lift stops at my floor and the doors slide open. My heart lunges heavily when the door to the Park Suite comes into view.
I’m on my own today. Marcella is sick and I’ve been given sole responsibility for her rooms. She’s taught me well—I know I can do it. I just wish I didn’t have to. Not today. I don’t want to see Bennett in these circumstances.
Even though I last saw him a few hours ago, I miss him. But it’s not because of the time that’s passed, it’s because of the distance now stretched between us. Even though we fought and he overreacted, the idea of him not wanting to see me makes my heart ache.
He’s not reached out since we talked in the car yesterday. Aarvi can’t have convinced him that it’s not me who’s out to get him.
All I’ve been doing is trying to help.
He doesn’t trust people, I get it, but it hurts more than it should that he doesn’t trust me.
The last thing I want to do is change his sheets when he might think I’m there to spy on him or plant some kind of device to aid in the attack on Fort. I don’t want to see him again when he sees me as the enemy, because that’s the last thing I am. I can’t bear to see an expression of hatred or distrust in his eyes. Not after everything we’ve shared.
The light to make up the room is on. I arrange the trolley outside, pull my shoulders back, and knock on the door. I open the door with a second knock and call “housekeeping”. There’s no answer, but I wouldn’t expect Bennett to answer.