The phone on my desk rang and I startled. I picked it up, cleared my throat, and said, “Hello?”
“Harriet, I need you to look into the email hack this morning,” Chuck Bennett barked into the phone.
I didn’t even bother to tell him my real name. He knew it. He just insisted on being a dick and using every name but the right one.
“Already on it,” I told him.
Asshole,I mouthed, though I would never have said it aloud.
“I’m getting really tired of these. Shouldn’t you and your team be on top of this? Can’t you even maintain secure firewalls? I thought I hired someone with some basic network skills. I’m beginning to think either you’re really good at bluffing your skill set or your résumé was an out-and-out lie, Hillary,” Chuck snarled in my ear.
I didn’t even bother to get angry. Sure, Chuck’s prickishness hit every single one of my buttons, but I had learned to let his nasty comments—and inability to use my proper name—roll right off my back.
Though I had contemplated uploading kiddie porn to his computer and making an anonymous call to the police.
I didn’t take his dick attitude personally, though. It was just how Chuck Bennett operated. He wasn’t a nice guy. Nobody liked him.
And he didn’t care that he’d never be on anyone’s Christmas card list.
“It was a pretty low-grade attack. Most likely some bored teenagers with nothing better to do with their time,” I said, silently berating Kyle and his immature need to play lamer.
“Well, it’s obvious we need to up security. Thatisyour job, right?” Chuck asked, his voice dripping in derision.
“Well, actually my job is maintaining the network. Security is Todd’s job,” I reminded my boss, enjoying the brief moment of stunned silence at my gall. Chuck wasn’t used to anyone correcting him.
“Oh, well, I’ll have to talk to Todd, but I expect you to collaborate with him on how to prevent these things from happening in the future. And if you can’t do it, there are enough people out there looking for a job,” Chuck threatened. I rolled my eyes heavenward.
“Okay, then,” I replied placidly.
“I want a follow-up by the end of the day,” Chuck blustered and then hung up the phone.
I looked around the crowded floor, wondering why I bothered with a job I hated.
Because my true passion doesn’t pay the bills.
One day Chuck would get his too. There were so many skeletons in his deep, dark closet. And I would take joy in exposing them.
Just not right now.
Vengeance had to be prioritized.
Tonight’s exploit was about frying bigger fish.
Chuck Bennett was too small for my pond at the moment.
But there would come a day when I’d give him all of my attention.
I grinned.
Happiness was fleeting but damn, it felt good.
Chapter 3
Mason
I took a sip of my now-cold coffee and threw it in the trash.
I briefly thought of the woman who had bought it for me.
