But fuck, there is something else Icando.
The press got ahold of my plans. Mytop-secretplans. I need to find out how.
How in the ever-loving fuck did they get their hands on something kept under lock and key?
My hand curls into a fist. Then I turn and head for my car.
I need to get to Vale Global.
Fury follows me into the building like a damn shadow.
I move through the lobby without seeing anyone, swipe my card at the private elevator, and force myself to breathe while the numbers climb. By the time the doors slide open on the executive floor, my blood is still pounding.
My father rounds the corner at the same moment. He lifts a hand in greeting, but the second he sees my face, his expression becomes cautious.
“I take it you’ve seen the newspapers,” he says.
“I have.”
“And I’m guessing this wasn’t you’re doing,” he adds, voice lowering. “Because if you were going to release anything to the press, you would have run it past me first.”
“Yes,” I grit out. “Someone leaked the information.”
A muscle jumps in his jaw. He shakes his head once. “I’ll get the team on it immediately.”
Before I can answer, Dorian appears beside him, holding his tablet like he’s already three steps into the investigation.
“While they start digging,” Dorian says, “let’s go to your office and check the files ourselves. If something slipped, we’ll find it.”
Dad nods. “Keep me updated. I have a meeting, but let me know if you need anything.”
He walks off, and the moment he disappears around the corner, some of the control I’ve been holding in my spine breaks. My shoulders cave forward, my breath dragging.
Dorian studies me for a beat, then asks quietly, “Did Isla see the news?”
My throat tightens. “Yeah. In the worst possible way.”
Dorian studies my face for half a second, and his expression hardens. “What happened?”
“Disaster,” I groan. “We were having breakfast at the restaurant. One of the regulars walked up with the newspaper… and that was it. No warning. No chance to prepare. Everything just exploded in my face.”
Dorian swears under his breath. “Fuck.”
“I was blindsided. I didn’t even get a second to explain.” My voice comes out rough.
“Alright. Come on.” He gestures toward my office. “We’ll start with the files. If someone got hold of anything internal, we’ll figure out how.”
I drag a hand through my hair.
Dorian lowers his voice. “We can’t fix what happened with Isla right this second. But wecanfind out who leaked your plans. If we get ahead of that, it gives you room to breathe.”
I nod slowly, trying to steady my mind.
“Let’s go.” He brushes my shoulder.
We head to my office, and the next hour drags like a blade.
We comb through every file, every access log, every draft of the proposal, but nothing jumps out. Nothing obvious. Nothing that explains how a locked, internal-only project ended up on the front page of the fuckingTimes.
