“I’ll take that as a no. Elijah, you need to let the board know. Protect yourself.”
“With what?” I snap. “The fact the CEO’s login has been compromised? That our cyber security company is about to become a laughingstock of the world as it becomes known asthe cyber company that got infiltrated. If this gets out, it will destroy us. Mine and the company’s reputation will be worth nothing. The more people who know, the more vulnerable we are. I need to try to get to the bottom of this before I bring anyone else in.”
“And Todd?”
I sigh and drop my elbows to my knees, my eyes on the floor.
“I don’t know.”
“Elijah, something like this, you can’t keep it from the board for long. It will look like you’re trying to cover something up.”
“Someone is trying to set me up, Gabe. I need to know who and why.”
“Can’t you pull the release, make up an excuse?”
“Not without one hell of a good reason! This is the company’s reputation at stake. We have never had to delay or pull a release.”
“I hate to point out the obvious, but if you don’t, you’ll be finished anyway if this gets out.”
“Thanks for stating the fucking obvious. However, if I pull the release, I’ll tip my hand. I may never get to the bottom of this. What if the damage is already out there, and they’re just waiting? I know some of these changes are live. I can see from the dates. I need to know what they do.”
“Have you called Pen?”
My eyes clash with Gabriel’s.
“Why the hell would I call Pen?”
My muscles tighten, and my heartbeat echoes in my ears.
“I don’t know? Maybe because she’s the best coder we know. Was going to be your business partner, until she wasn’t.”
“Are you kidding me?” I stare at Gabriel open-mouthed. “Have you forgotten she’s engaged to my biggest competitor—Kristophe Lansdown would love this.”
“All I’m saying is, if you aren’t going to let anyone in the company know what’s going on, then you need help from somewhere. All I’m saying is Pen?—”
“Don’t,” I say, holding up a hand. “I’m not calling Pen.”
Gabriel opens his mouth but shuts it again, clearly weighing up his next words.
“Don’t be an idiot, Eli. It’s not just your reputation at stake,” he says calmly in a typical Gabriel manner. “If you’re correct and espionage is afoot, then the whole Frazer brand could be damaged. The fallout will affect us all. Are you willing to take that gamble?”
I rub my chest, the pressure causing heartburn, my face burning under his scrutiny.
“I don’t know why I bothered coming here,” I say defensively. “I should be in the office trying to work out what this bastard has done,” I say.
“But you aren’t. You’re here because you know I’m talking sense.”
I stand up and move away from the chair.
“Twelve hours,” Gabriel says. “Then I’m contacting Pen.”
I stare at my brother and realise he’s serious.
“You’ll be ruining me,” I say quietly.
“No, I’ll probably be saving your stubborn ass,” he says.
My throat tightens, as I move to the door, spots appearing in front of my eyes. I want to forbid him, but I can’t seem to form the words.
