Garth nodded and sat on the opposite end of the sofa, his gaze speculative as it met mine.
“I didn’t leak any data,” I said, my voice trembling.
Gail arrived and joined me on the sofa as Konni said, “I believe you.
“IT and Gail both let me know you were having computer issues.The data you’ve been taking home isn’t confidential and poses no security concerns.However, emails disappearing from our internal servers is a huge security issue that they’ve been looking into.We should have more answers soon.”
His phone rang.He answered with a brisk, “What did you find?”then listened.He made a few sounds of affirmation, let out an annoyed sigh, and said, “Pull the security access records and footage.I want a name.”
He hung up and came over to sit on the end table in front of me and looked at Gail.
“What we know is that an email was sent from your workstation this morning.It contained confidential bidding information for an upcoming project.It’s not data you would have access to.”
“What time was it sent?”I asked.
“A little after seven.”
“So I was in the building.”
“You were, but you were in here with me, which the cameras will prove.”
I could feel Garth’s gaze bounce between us.
“I’ve never been so grateful to come in early for a meeting in my life,” I said.
Konni’s brief smile didn’t meet his eyes.“Me too.”
Gail turned toward me and took my hand.“Steele takes care of its employees.Because of what happened earlier, this does appear to be a pattern of targeting.Is there anyone here who might have an issue with you?”
“The only person who seems to have a problem with me is Lianna.”
Gail glanced from me to Konni uncomfortably.
“Lianna and I have known each other since we were kids,” he said.“Our families are close.She wouldn’t betray the Steeles.Ever.”
“Her previous actions were due to a misunderstanding that’s been corrected,” Gail added.
Even though Lianna’s attitude toward me definitely didn’t feel corrected, I didn’t contradict her.I was smart enough to understand that Lianna would have no reason to undermine the company, given her position and her apparent relationship with Konni.
Why then did she have such a problem with me?And if it wasn’t her, did that mean someone else was trying to push me out of Steele’s doors?I suddenly had a better understanding of why Mom’s confidence was almost nonexistent after countless times of losing her job through no fault of her own.
Konni looked at Garth.“Do you have enough to make a statement?”
Garth nodded slowly.“Do you want it known Ms.Elmantas was in a meeting with you?”
“No,” I said.“Thanks to my predecessors’ extracurricular ambitions, everything I do gets graded on a completely different curve.”
Gail patted my hand consolingly, and Konni sighed.
“Just make it clear that we’re not holding Ms.Elmantas responsible and are continuing to look into it.”
“I’ll have the statement to you in fifteen minutes,” Garth said to Konni before leaving.
One of Konni’s assistants tapped on the door.
“Come in,” Konni said.
He and Gail stepped away to speak quietly by the door as the assistant handed me the tea.
