“Don’t sound like that,” he says, turning to face me. I don’t miss the glint in his eyes. “You’d think I was fussy or something.”
“You bloody well were. You always influenced what we ate. I know it’s been fifteen years, but I can’t imagine you’ve changed that much. Old habits and all that.”
His face falls and I realise I’ve hit a nerve.
“Fine, how about Chinese?” I say, not wanting to go there.
Knowing it’s what he always chose.
“I’d prefer Indian,” he says.
I shake my head, and he shrugs. Indian was always my preference. Is he trying to be thoughtful?
“Indian it is,” I say, not wanting to argue. “Here, take a look.”
Elijah takes the menu out of my hand, and I keep our fingers from touching. I don’t need this added complication. I’m already too aware of his presence.
He shoots me his order. I open my phone and access the app my company developed. It’s installed in all of Caleb’s new developments, connecting the residents with local businesses, encouraging a symbiotic relationship. It’s done wonders for building communities, giving the smaller, independent businesses the same reach as many of the franchises have.
I input our order and hit send.
“Forty minutes,” I say, gesturing for Elijah to take a seat on one of the sofas. “Can I get you anything to drink? Wine, beer?”
I know I won’t be drinking. I need to keep my wits about me. I need to stay on my guard. I’m sure alcohol and Elijah would not be a good combination.
“A beer,” Elijah says as I move to my wine fridge, grabbing a bottle and using the bottle opener to pop the top.
“Glass?” I ask as he shakes his head.
Still the same. Elijah always preferred swigging from the bottle. Said it lacked flavour in a glass.
I grab myself a juice and move to join him, taking the seat opposite.
I hand him the bottle.
“Any more ideas about who could be behind this?”
He rests his forearms on his thighs, cradling the bottle in his hands.
Something passes over his face.
I wait.
“I’ve been wracking my brains and come up empty. As a company, we pay over the odds, and our staff are all vetted.” He looks up, his eyes locking with mine. “If you’ve got in, is it possible someone else has hacked in?”
I shake my head. “I doubt it,” I tell him truthfully. “I searched for evidence of an external hit. Nothing. They are also using your login. That seems personal.”
“So, you still think it’s an inside job?” His expression hardens. “It’s driving me crazy trying to think who is walking past me every day, wanting to put a proverbial dagger in my back.”
His jaw clenches, the tendons on his neck standing out. A thick vein pulses on his forehead as it always did when he was stressed. I don’t think I’ve seen Elijah look so stressed since Darra announced her pregnancy.
I move my head, capturing his attention and holding his gaze.
“It’s okay. We’ll figure out what they’ve done, and then we’ll find out who is responsible. We’ll get them and stop them.”
“I believe you. My question, however, is how? How do we track the perpetrator?”
“We’ll set a trap and see who springs it,” I tell him.
