“Yes. It’s come to my attention that we have a problem.”
Great. What fresh hell is about to be unleashed?
I manage to croak out an “Oh?” around the stomach that’s lodged itself in my throat. I don’t think I can take another hit right now.
“There’s been a security breach.”
“Security?” I squeak, feeling guilty, even though I know I’ve done nothing wrong. Because maybe Zoe and her gang have struck again.
“Craig accidentally left a copy of everyone’s logins on the printer last week. And neglected to tell me.”
His eyes never waver from my face. If he’s waiting for me to say something, we’ll be here a while. I know I should be able to work this out, but my mind is frozen. I have no idea where this is going.
“And it appears someone in the office used it to access files they had no business accessing. Namely yours. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, this person was foolish enough to access those files from their own computer. And at a time when you were at an offsite meeting with me.”
And now I know where this is going. A tiny chunk of the ice around my heart shears off. Who knows? Maybe one day it will start beating again.
He seems to be waiting for something from me.
“I see.”
“The person in question will be dealt with today. I won’t tolerate theft or deception of any sort.”
“I understand.” I want to jump up and shout yes but somehow manage to restrain myself. I’m not a hundred percent sure what he means bydealt with, although I have hopes.
“What I can’t quite fathom is why you let her get away with it yesterday. It was clearly not her work. It had your stamp all over it.”
“You knew?”
“Of course. Why do you think I gave you the opportunity to tell me privately after the meeting?”
“Oh. Well. I was rattled. I wasn’t sure how to handle it. And Zoe and her ga … I mean, the others, were watching from the other side of the office. It didn’t seem like the right time.”
“I see. Anyway. I would suggest you make changing your login a priority this morning.” Jonathan smiles for the first time since I entered his office. “I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself, even if it was a little tardy. Piece of advice? You’ll probably come across this kind of behaviour in your career from time to time. Don’t let it bring you down.”
His eyes go back to his laptop screen, signalling the meeting is over. When I get to the door, he speaks again. “Oh, and by the way. You’ll be working with me on the community housing project.”
I melt into my chair when I reach my desk. I was fully prepared to explain the whole thing this morning, but I’m so glad I didn’t have to. My emotions are on a hair-trigger right now. Thank God Jonathan could see through the dishonesty and had faith in me. Faith in my work.
A tearful Zoe is escorted out of the office by security at nine-oh-five with a box of personal possessions under her arm. She pauses as she passes my desk and gives me a death stare. And I give it right back. I wish I had it in me to feel relieved that she’s gone. All I feel is numb. And I can’t see that changing any time soon.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Josh
It’shardtobelieveI could’ve fucked things up with Greer any worse than I did a few weeks ago, and yet I have. I reread her email for the hundredth time. It’s businesslike. Polite even. But the message is clear. She wants nothing more to do with the house. Or me. It opens up a gaping wound in my chest. I can’t say I blame her.
Meanwhile, Dave’s wife, Megan, has been carpet bombing me with emails about paint colours and floor stains and carpet deliveries and final lighting choices as though I have any interest in, or understanding of, what she’s talking about.
And work is no better. It only takes a couple of hours the day after my fight with Greer for the team to work out that I’m not in top form. In fact, I’m not in any form at all. And by the end of the day, the director of client services—who is a real tool and hates my guts—is asking if I need a mental health day. Fucker. Yes. Yes, I do need a mental health day. Or a heart health day. Or ten. Or maybe the rest of my days. All of them. Because I don’t know if I can recover from this complete cluster fuck of my own making.
The chairman of the agency attempting to poach me is in Sydney on business and arranges to meet me for a drink after work at a member’s only club in the city.Pretentious git,I think as I climb out of the Uber. Only he isn’t. He’s actually a really cool guy, and we have a lot in common. The job is amazing. Huge salary. Lots of travel. Fantastic high-profile clients in business sectors I’ve worked in before. And he’s handing it to me on a silver platter. No other candidates. Mine for the taking.
I should be jumping at this opportunity. Knocking this guy over in a rush to sign the contract. Yet I don’t.
“Look, I’ll be frank. Sydney is my hometown, and I only moved back here not long ago after a long time away. It’s a big decision to move again. There’s a lot to weigh up.”
“We’re aware. Do you have a partner you need to discuss this with?” he asks, leaning back in the insanely soft leather chair and sipping his top-shelf scotch.
