Maybe I’m not selling the lie well because the rooms still fall silent whenever I enter. But the silence quickly goes away, replaced by hushed whispers and side looks. I can’t even blame them. Finding out that the boss might be a wanted cybercriminal is hot gossip. And I’m right there, holding the tea they’re all dying to hear.
It’s only fair that they all wonder what the future of Kelex will look like. Even though Lex isn’t the face of it—Kevin is—everyone has now heard of Alexander Coleman and the company he co-founded. A few investors are already distancing themselves from Kelex, and some who were in the process of investing are getting cold feet. On the plus side, though, we’ve gotten a massive surge of interest in our apps. People all over the country, even the world, are discovering what we do and taking an interest in it. That’s why the stock has been up and down since the arrest. People can’t decide if all this is good or bad publicity.
So, until the trial, Kev says we need to keep our heads up and act as if all this is a monumental mistake. Despite my best efforts, it’s hard to pretend. It takes everything I have not to break down in the middle of my days. I come in, work, smile, have a quick cry in the bathroom, talk, smile some more, and go home, exhausted, all of my willpower drained by the efforts of the day.
Although I thought it would, it doesn’t get easier with every day that passes. In fact, the weight pressing on my shoulders seems to increase, as well as the guilt I feel within. Kevin tried to convince me this isn’t my fault, and even Lex insisted on it. But deep down, I can’t deny the fact that I’m the reason all this happened.
Lex went after Stefano because ofme. He confessed he was Nammota tome. He wanted to take the deal forme. Had I not been in the picture, he’d still be free. A little lonely, maybe, but at least not in jail.
“Have you had any news?”
Although the question comes from Mason’s spot next to me, the voice is Oliver’s. I look away from my screen, where I wasn’t really doing anything, and see that Mace left at some point, and Oli is in his seat.
“About Lex?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
I can barely hold back a sigh as I explain, “No, not yet. His lawyers say it’s normal. For a high-profile inmate like him, it can take up to a week until he’s processed.”
Oli must sense my distress because he gives me a contrite smile. “I’m sure he’ll call as soon as he can.”
“He better.”
The humor I try to lace with my words falls flat. Probably because I’ve been worried sick since the preliminary trial, over a week ago. Lex was transferred to a federal prison in Oregon a couple of days after the disastrous hearing, and the only news we’ve had since has been from his lawyers.
Oli, forever the knight in shining armor, bends toward me and asks, “Do you want to go grab beers after work? You can vent all you want and get it all off your chest.”
I force my lips into a grin. “Thank you, but I have plans.”
“Oh, I see.”
Because I don’t want him to think I’m going out and having fun, I feel compelled to add, “I’m heading to Lex’s place to do some cleaning up. They left a mess after the search, and I haven’t had the heart to go handle it.”
“Do you want some help?” he kindly offers.
“That’s very sweet, but no, thank you.”
I’m pretty sure I’ll spend the whole time crying my eyes out, so it’s definitely better if no one’s there to see.
Mason chooses that moment to return, chasing Oli with a dismissive hand. “Move over, carrot top. And stop trying to hit on my girl. Homeboy is in jail, not dead.”
Oli is as surprised as I am to hear Mace’s insinuations, and I see the way he panics, worried I’ll see any truth in our friend’s words. “Jesus, that’s not what I was trying to—” he tries to explain, getting up from the chair. “Andy, I promise I wasn’t—”
“I know, don’t worry,” I reassure him. “Mace, stop being such a dickhead.”
“Making cute redheads blush is my second-favorite pastime. Sue me.”
Being called cute makes Oli blush even redder, and I’m happy that I’m not the one with that problem, for once.
That brief moment, even though it wasn’t much, lifts my heart more than I expected. I might feel lonelier than I ever have, but I actually am surrounded by friends and family. Unlike Lex, who has no one right now.
Ah, fuck, there I go being sad again…
Per usual these days, I’m out as soon as five o’clock comes. I have a small bag with some things for the night and a change of clothes for tomorrow. Given the state of Lex’s apartment, I’ll need more than one evening to return it to its pristine norm.
I haven’t set foot in Lex’s building in two weeks, but the memory of Kev and me passing this glass door feels like yesterday. Still in shock from everything that was happening, we came to see the damage and, more importantly, see if the federal agents who searched Lex’s apartment had blown the secret door wide open or not.
“Miss Walker, welcome back,” the concierge says from behind his desk.
