Clearing my throat, I look up at him. “What is your point here?”
“Well”—Dane sets his phone down, eyeing me with sly intent as he stretches in Dorothy’s chair—“like I said, you’ve been hacked. I thankfully caught the leak in time. And… you’re fired.” He turns to Dorothy and points at me. “He’s fired.”
“On whose authority?”
“Mine. And the investors’.”
Dorothy sucks in a deep breath. “You spoke with my investors about this without me?” The fool might not be able to tell that he’s released the kraken, but he is the only one. Dorothy is livid. I’ve never seen her face this hard. This is a woman not to be messed with.
I glance at Dane and see not one ounce of terror when he says, “Well, of course, Dotty. What d’you think I’d do when I found all that sensitive information on the dark web?” If this man knows how to access, much less utilize the dark web in any meaningful way, I will eat my fucking shorts. “You think I was just gonna throw up my hands and wait for theprofessionalto take care of it?” He points his thumb my way.
“Dane. I want you to leave. Right now.”
“No.”
“If you don’t get out in the next thirty seconds, I am calling the police.” She points to me. “This is still my company. Also, thisprofessionalhappens to own the building, so, yes, we are fully within our rights to kick you out. Go. Now.”
Dane looks from me to Dorothy, half laughing like he can’t believe it. “You’re not serious.”
“As a heart attack. Which, thanks to regular visits to the doctor, I will not be succumbing to anytime soon. Sorry to disappoint.” She stands, as unyielding as Margaret Thatcher, and points one rigid arm at the door.
“I’m telling Rachel.”
Dorothy blinks. “You’re pathetic.”
“I know about the leak. I know you’ve had employees literally stealing from you.”
Dorothy’s staring him down like he’s a snake about to strike.
“I know about everything, Dotty. Everything you’ve been trying to hide.” He’s chuckling outright, and it is pretty weird. “I know that this dude’s just a buddy. Next-door neighbor. I know that this contract is a way to siphon money over to him. I know that you’ve been skimming off the business for ages. All-expenses-paid luxury holidays like the one you just had over in the valley.” His laugh becomes ugly. “The investors aren’t happy about that. Yeah.” He throws the door open and turns back. “Enjoy your last few days here, Dorothy. By this time next week, you’ll be out on your ass.” Dead serious, he says, “Tell your little employees they’d better update their résumés, because I’ve already found their replacements.”
He slams the doorhard.
“This is my fault,” I tell her.
“Of course it’s not. He’s an evil toad.” Dorothy sinks into herchair, looking tired. Her head tilts back as she watches me pace to the door. “Get your ass back here. We’ve got work to do.”
“You mean I’ve got work to do.”
“No, kiddo. We do. You’re not alone here. That’s what it means to be part of a team. Now, come on. Let’s figure this shit out.”
I know she means well, but I’ve never in my life felt less deserving of a person’s respect or of being part of a team.
I know exactly how the situation got this out of hand, and it’s because of my unprofessionalism. “I screwed up, Dorothy.”
“Oh, shut up, Grant. Please shut up and help me figure out how to get rid of that little shithead. Bonus if we can keep his name from ever making it onto the permanent family tree.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Rae
IT’S NEAR THE ENDof the day when Grant finally emerges from Dorothy’s office. He knocks on the open door of our shared office before sticking his head in. That alone is odd.
The second I see him, I know it’s bad. He looks exhausted, like himself but more deeply carved. An exaggerated version of the scowl. I can almost see the extra weight that’s settled over his thick shoulders.
“Hi,” I say when he doesn’t immediately speak. I’m tired too. Neither of us slept much last night. Even with the dread hanging over us, memories warm my belly.
He steps inside and closes the door.
