It looks like it’s dinner at Pen’s.
I make my way back upstairs and wander around the room. The watch on my wrist vibrates as I move past my bookcase and again near the sofa in the corner.
Shit! I’m becoming as paranoid as Pen.
I sit at my desk, staring at the place I discovered the bugs. I hope she has a plan. My mind is presently stuck on the spin cycle. What the hell is going on? Turning to my computer I plug in the memory stick before hitting the prompt that appears. I sit back and watch as a program runs, checking for whatever… when it finally pings, I shudder. My own fucking laptop camera has been spying on me. I slam it shut and run and hand down my face before remembering what Pen said.
I need to remain unaware.
My stomach churns, and my lunch threatens to make a reappearance. I take some deep breaths before reopening my computer and the file I was looking at before Pen inserted herself into my morning. It’s going to be a long afternoon.
CHAPTER 13
PEN
“Hi, Mum,” I call as I let myself in through the front door.
Her head appears out of the kitchen with an enormous grin, her arms wide as she walks towards me.
“Just couldn’t stay away,” she adds, pulling me in for a hug, although I can’t miss the shimmer of concern in her eyes. “I’ve just stocked your fridge. Milk and fresh fruit.”
“Thank you. I’d be lost without you,” I say hugging her back tightly.
“How are the wedding plans going?”
“Fine,” I tell her. “Kris’s mum has everything in hand.”
Mum’s lips purse, but she keeps her counsel. It’s not like we haven’t discussed this a number of times in the past few months.
“I was surprised you came back so soon,” she says changing the subject.
She understands my career takes priority, always has.
I shrug, not wanting to go into too many details.
“You work too hard. You’re supposed to be on holiday, spending time with your fiancé,” she says, tutting. “I expect things to change when you move to the US and start living with Kris. What does he say?”
I tilt my head. “He gets it more than most. He’s worse than me.”
I don’t mention he’s been working flat out since I arrived last week and that even our evenings have been taken up meeting friends and clients.
She lets out a sigh and shakes her head. “You’re as bad as one another. It’s going to have to change when you have a family.”
Having a family has become my dream. Kris and I have discussed it. Once we’re married and I’ve settled in, we’ll start trying straight away.
“I’m not complaining. It may only be a week since you left, but it’s been quiet around here.”
I roll my eyes as she wraps an arm around my waist and leads me into the kitchen. I’ve missed her and the flow of normality.
“Are you going into the office?”
“No, I’ll be working from home,” I say, unable to meet her gaze.
A frown appears between her brows. “Pen, what’s going on? Why have you cut your stay short? Is everything okay?”
I sigh. Mum is too smart for her own good. Nothing keeps me out of the office. It’s my safe place.
I sigh. “Elijah is coming over later. We have some work to do.”
