28
Nathaniel
Julia and I arrive to work together Monday morning a little later than normal. We figure at this point there are no more secrets with the team. Well, at least as far as our relationship goes. As soon as we cross into the building unease washes over me. It takes me a minute to identify what it is.
Then it hits me.
The smell of my father’s cologne.
“Julia,” I say. I grab her hand to stop her as I turn to her.
“What is it?” Worry creases her brow.
“So glad you two could finally join us.” My father’s voice has us turning toward him.
He’s casually leaning outside the conference room door. “The rest of the Mesh-Tek team is waiting for you.” He pushes off the doorframe and thumbs behind him, looking somber. But it’s fake somber. It’s barely controlled glee.
He purposely pronounced the name of Shemesh-Tek wrong. He hates that I named this company in honor of my Jewish mother. A wave of heat comes off Julia, reminding me of hackles rising on a dog.
My stomach drops.
When my father turns his back to enter the conference room, Julia quickly squeezes my hand, blasting it with a quick burst of comforting warmth.
I hold her gaze and pour as much of a warning into that look as I can. She has no idea the levels he will sink to or go to, to get his way. I felt he was losing control. I sensed something was coming. I should have given Julia more warning. Should have made sure she and Lincoln were safe. But is anyone ever safe from him?
In the room, my whole team is gathered: Jared, Febin, Kate, and Dylan. Dylan flicks a pen from one finger to the other, circling it around and around. Jared works his lip ring, his dark brows low with concern. He shoots a look at me and then Julia before looking away. Kate won’t meet my gaze at all. Dylan has their arms crossed, their foot shaking wildly. Febin’s shoulders are up to his ears and he glares at the table.
Whatever Will has told them before our arrival can’t be good. Ken is standing at the front of the room, leaning against a table. He repeatedly pets his chin, frowning at the ground. When he glances up and sees Julia, he curls a lip in disgust.
“Take a seat,” Will says.
Julia and I sit next to each other across from the rest of the team. None of them meet my gaze as I search their faces. If Jared or Kate made the connection over the years that Will is my father, they never voiced it. I don’t want any association with that man, and he certainly didn’t include me on any of his billboards.
“What’s going on?” My voice is clipped.
Will shuts the door gently and walks to the front of the room. He stands facing the table, stance wide, one hand in his pocket and the other scratching his chin like he’s a surgeon deciding the best way to say he botched the surgery.
“I’m afraid I have bad news.” The room is so silent, a phone ringing down the hall is audible.
He drops his hand to his other pocket. “The Lite-Brite contract is frozen while it undergoes an investigation.”
“Good. Somebody needs to be liable for the destroyed equipment,” I say.
Will looks at me, features neutral.
But it’s Ken who speaks. “Really? You want to pretend you know nothing about the damaged equipment? You can’t think of anybody who’s been entering the testing room without the proper level of clearance?”
My heart slams against my chest. I don’t look at Ken, instead focusing on my father. That bastard. He is behind this somehow. I should have known.
Julia tenses in my periphery. I hold Will’s gaze, answering Ken. “Nope.”
Across from me, Febin sighs and Dylan shifts to bring their knees up to their chin.
I made a mistake but I’m not giving anything away.
“Will showed us the tapes, Nathaniel,” Jared says. “Of you and Julia going to the testing room at night.”
“Did you think we wouldn’t protect the lab’s most valuable testing facility?” Will asks in obvious disbelief.
