I picked up my pen, turning it in my hands and tilting my head as I thought about how wrong he was, how Catalyst would never belong to Titan and how stupid he looked in his olive-green polo shirt tucked into his overly pleated khakis.
He sat back with a smirk on his face, crossing his arms as if he’d just won. “So yes, I went around normal channels. Yes, I made some executive decisions. But I was thinking about the long-term value of what we’ve built here, not just maintaining some idealistic fantasy about how the creative industry should work.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, turning the pen over and over slowly in an effort to keep my hands from shaking.
“Agent Riggs here will escort you from the building,” my voice was ice-cold, detached. I felt as if I was watching from outside of myself. “Your access to all systems has been revoked. Your company equipment will be collected. You are to leave your bag and phone in this room. You may take your wallet and keys only after you’ve been searched. Any personal items will be shipped to you after they’ve been searched for additional stolen materials. Legal will be in contact regarding the criminal charges and civil suit.”
I clicked my pen once before setting it on the table, aligning it perfectly parallel with the folder before I looked back to his pale, shocked face.
“You’re done here.”
Chapter 26
Advanced Techniques in Delayed Gratification
Alex
The FBI team worked upstairs while Agent Riggs conducted interviews in the smaller conference room on the main floor. Casey did his interview before returning to help where needed. I had to call Jason to come in and be interviewed.
I curled up on the chaise in my office and tried to nap, feeling exhausted in my bones as the adrenaline bled out of my body. Lennon was allowed to order lunch for the team and Tabitha brought me a salad and bottle of water before sitting down on the sofa.
Dom texted me just after two:just got in. finn’s pretty wiped from last night and the trip. we put him down in your room since we’re in the guest.
My chest warmed at the update, but tears pricked at my eyes over still having to be at the office and missing their arrival.
Me:thank you for driving him down. FBI is finishing interviews here.
Me:I have to give mine and then I can come home.
Dom:FBI? shit that’s some serious stuff alex.
Me:you have no idea.
Dom:does finn know?
I felta pang of guilt. I’d only given Finn a light version of what was going on at my company, not wanting to talk about it or worry him with it.
Me:only a little bit. he doesn’t know about the FBI.
Dom:you 2 need to stop keeping secrets from each other.
I locked my screen and dropped my phone on the cushion before setting my elbows on my knees and resting my throbbing head in my hands. Dom was right. The rational part of my brain knew I’d been unfair accusing Finn of pulling away when I hadn’t shared everything with him. Maybe if I had, Lennon wouldn’t have had to order us a new printer.
“You okay, boss?” Tabitha looked up from where she was sitting, reading a book. We’d been asked to not use our computers for the rest of the day.
“No,” I sat up, rubbing the back of my neck. “Finn just got back and I thought I’d be home by now.”
“I’ll go see if Agent Riggs can hurry things up or interview you another day.”
“It’s okay.”
She stood up. “You should be home with your man, not stuck here.” She left and I closed my eyes again still exhausted, my mind whirring around seeing Finn again. What did he want to talk about? It didn’t seem like a break-up, but I had so little to go on, only his reaction at the recital almost a week ago. I yawned and checked my watch. Two-thirty. Maybe it was better this way. Finn could rest.
I wasn’t sure how long it had been when Tabitha came back. I must have fallen asleep after all. “Riggs says you can go,” she picked up my bag and handed it to me. “You just need to leave your laptop and password here.”
“What time is it?” I pulled out my computer and left it on my desk.
“Justafter four,” she glanced at her watch. I’d slept for ninety minutes. It might as well have been a hundred years with how much better I already felt.
