Everyone moved to the sitting area with their drinks and sandwiches.
“Have you heard anything from IT about the cameras lately?”he asked Marius.
“The camera in the hallway outside our suite and by our workstations that also covers your door have gone out twice since they set up the alerts.They had the cameras back up within minutes each time, but have set up additional cameras outside of our existing system as a failsafe.”
“Do they know why they keep going out?”
“They were turned off with the admin account, which is known by the IT leaders and anyone who has access to that piece of the Steele Corp’s disaster recovery plan.”
“So half the executive team,” Konni said.
“You’re annoying me again,” I said, uncaring that we had an audience.
Konni’s confused gaze met mine.
“Oh, come on.It’s Lianna.Only the cameras where I’m sitting have problems, and she’s the only one on the executive team who has a grudge against me.Coincidence?No.”
“I know she’s behind it, but I need proof to remove her.Not only is she a high-ranking executive, but she’s also a high-ranking person in our circle, and her mom’s a close friend of my mom’s.”
“Well, that makes getting proof easy then.I thought you were being blind, not careful.”
“Easy how?”Edi asked.“We’ve been combing through everything, trying to prove it's her.”
“That’s because you didn’t tell me what you were doing.Leave it to me.”
“What exactly are we leaving to you?”Konni said.
“Pushing Lianna’s buttons so hard she makes a mistake.”
Konni didn’t look happy with that answer, but nodded his agreement.
“I’m also anticipating the fire inspector’s call.Too many things have happened to believe it wasn’t arson.If I’m in a meeting when the call comes, interrupt it.”
“Understood,” Edi said.He hesitated a second.“Do you believe what’s happening inside and outside is the same person?”
“No,” I said before Konni could.“The stuff happening outside started way before I ever met Lianna.I just seem to be a trouble magnet.”
“Agreed,” Konni said.“Sophia doesn’t leave your sight.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
The Snack Packremained my discreet guardians throughout the day as I openly wore the bracelet I’d received.When people noticed and asked where I’d gotten it, I said it was a gift, without saying who had given it.However, I always smiled and touched it in a way any intelligent person would read into.
I knew that stirring office gossip about my newly acquired tennis bracelet wouldn’t be enough to bait Lianna, though.So I also used every excuse to be in Konni’s office.Once he realized what I was doing, he started calling me in for random reasons, and I spent more of my day straightening his tie and delivering printed files that could have been emailed than I spent at my desk.
Unfortunately, Lianna didn’t appear at the end of the day with some off-site, after-hours meeting that needed Konni’s presence.I wasn’t worried, though.I knew she wouldn’t stay away for long.
The next morning, during her favorite “barge in and ruin his day” time, I did more than straighten Konni’s tie.I “accidentally” spilled his morning coffee on him.
He didn’t even flinch from the surprise or the heat—I’d put some ice cubes in it to make sure it wasn’t too hot.
“I’m so sorry, Mr.Steele,” I said, urgently pushing his jacket off his shoulders.“Let me help you.”
I started tugging his tie loose.
“Are you testing me, Sophia?”he asked softly.
“Shh.Just stand there and let me have my way with you.”
