Fuck.“Just seeing how everyone’s doing.” I knew Sofie was still in hearing distance, but I didn’t want to tell Lindsey that I was looking for Cierra. If I did, I’d meet a barrage of questions I wasn’t in the mood to answer.
“And how are we doing?” She smiled.
“Great. Let’s go up together.”
As Lindsey and I rode the elevator, I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. My mind was still on Cierra, her familiar scent still in my brain. We walked into the conference room and Doug and Gwen were already there. I took a seat and began the meeting.
“Well I’ll bedamned,” my grandfather said as he threw another log into the fire. “DTG is a front. Do you think it’s being used to launder money?”
I picked up the brandy snifter and swirled the rich amber-colored liquid around. “I don’t think so. Ivan’s under the impression that its sole existence is to destroy Velocity… or me.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Who would go through all this trouble and expense to destroy you? And why? If it was something related to the app you patented, that was several years ago. And you’ve been having yourself a pretty good time for the last few years. Why now?”
“Because I’m CEO. There’re people out there who don’t like it,” I said softly.
“Bullshit! The board of directors likes it, the stockholders like it, and I like it. Velocity stock has gone up ten dollars a share since you’ve landed several high-profile accounts.”
“But DTG is determined to take them away from us. Absolute Glam pulled out, and Vita Health gave the word that they were going with DTG. They said DTG underbid us substantially.”
“The others stuck around because they know the reputation of the company. We’re expensive but we give the best goddamn campaign in the city. The amount they pay us, they get back tenfold in sales. And if what you say is true about DTG contracting the work out, the other two accounts will be running back with their damn tails between their legs. There’s no way this DTG can sustain itself long-term.”
“I think the same thing, but what if it’s some crazy billionaire who wants to dick around with me? A lot of guys weren’t too fond of me because I never had a hard time getting a woman.”
Thomas Linder laughed so hard it brought on a coughing fit. I rushed over with a glass of water in hand and rubbed his back to calm him down. “You’re going to be the death of me, boy,” he sputtered as he brought the glass to his lips. After swallowing a few gulps, he put it on the coffee table and looked at me. “There’s no way DTG came about because you had a good time with a lot of women. It does seem like it could be something personal, but I can’t imagine what it could be.”
“You don’t think it’s a competitor out to get you?”
“No. They would’ve done it before, and to set up a phony company isn’t the way a competitor would go about it.”
“Well, one thing is for certain—someone from inside Velocity is giving information to DTG.”
“Has Ivan been able to narrow it down?”
I shook my head. “He’s looking into the employees, but he’s working on finding out who’s behind DTG. Once we know that, finding out who’s selling the trade information will be much easier.”
“I hate to think someone in Velocity is doing that. I always thought of them as family. It saddens me to hear it. I hope it’s not someone who’s been with us for a long time. That would definitely be a hard pill to swallow.”
I nodded and looked toward the door just as my grandmother walked in. “How nice of you to drop over,” she said as she came over to kiss me. “I hope you’re not talking business, but from the look on your face, Tom, I bet you are.”
“He’s just updating me. Do you expect me to shrivel up and die?”
“I’m just trying to make sure youdon’tdie,” she said sweetly as she sat on the cushy chair next to my grandfather.
I smiled at the familiar banter between my grandparents. “I needed to talk to Grandpa about some things. He’s still the boss, and I needed his opinion.”
“I heard you asked Victoria Pettinger out again. You must like her since she’s the only one you’ve asked out twice.” My grandmother folded her hands on her lap.
“Your network is good,” I said. I knew she was chomping at the bit to get the lowdown on Victoria, but I thought I’d make her wait for a few minutes before I said anything. The fact that she was cheerful meant Victoria hadn’t told her grandma what a heel I was on our first date.
“So…?”
“I asked her to accompany me tomorrow night for the launch.” The truth was Victoria had asked me because she wanted to meet some of the movers and shakers in the advertising and business world. I suspected she was looking to find an eligible bachelor to snag, having realized I wasn’t vying for that role.
“I’m so happy. Victoria is a lovely young lady, and her grandmother and I have been friends for years. And she’s working in advertising just like you are now. I think you two make a wonderful couple.”
“I wouldn’t start conspiring with Mom in planning my wedding. We’re just going out as friends to a business event.”
“It’s important for a couple to be friends. I just knew the two of you would hit it off.”
