My cell rings.
Loud and clear and ruining the moment.
I wish I could say that this is the first time my phone ringing has ruined a moment for me.
Alas, that wouldn’t be true.
“You’d better get that,” Marie finishes, turning back to the door, punching at the keypad.
I see the code—something she should be more careful about—and file the bit of information away. Not saying I’m going to use the knowledge to my advantage…
But I’m notnotgoing to use it to my advantage either.
“Night, cookie.”
I don’t get the chance to see her green eyes flare with annoyance because my cell rings again and at the same time, I hear thewhirof her door’s lock disengaging.
Then the slam of her door closing behind her.
Stifling a sigh, I dig out my phone, leave the confusing, perplexing,interestingwoman to her evening and answer the call.
It’s not a good one.
And I’ve had too manynotgood ones of late.
At first small things—issues with a production facility we’re building, then a competitor swooping in and undercutting us on a bid, emails that weren’t replied to and, apparently, when we reached out, had never been received.
Shit that isn’t on my radar, that my team handles for me.
But eventually, so many missteps that it was brought to my attention.
Someone is trying to sabotage us.
Not entirely something that’s out of the realm of possibilities in a world of corporate espionage and cutthroats.
But still annoying as fuck.
And now, I’m on the receiving end of calls at eight P.M. on a Saturday night.
Fun times being the big boss.
“Hey,” I say after I swipe my finger across the screen and lift my phone to my ear. “What’s happening?”
“The Duarte contract.”
I frown. That’s one of our biggest government contracts. “What’s going on with it?”
Tom, my assistant, sighs. “Apparently, we didn’t comply with the necessary environmental reports.”
That’s bullshit.
Something I also say aloud.
“Bullshit.”
“Yes,” Tom agrees as I walk around the corner, jab at the buttons on the keypad above the handle on my door. “But I think we’re going to have to fly to DC to resolve this in person.”
I don’t want to hear that.
