Page 220 of Sky’s Edge

My chin jerked back. “You do?”

“It was confirmed this morning. A footbeing by the name of Mord has been selling info to whoever wanted to buy it.”

“Oh,” I mumbled.

“Another reason why I haven’t spoken to you this morning. I was dealing with him.”

“Oh,” I repeated my mumble.

“Not surprising, since we brought him in for questioning, he was happy to share he thought all the Firefierces sucked. He got paid shit. Got treated like shit. And making matters worse, Tatra was inappropriate with him in more than just being a tyrannical bitch.”

Oh gods, no.

“Sexual harassment?” I asked quietly.

“Yes. With touching. Though she didn’t push it further than that, I think we can both agree that was bad enough. He has a wife and a kid and needs this job, that’s the only reason he didn’t leave.”

“What are you going to do?”

He appeared aggravated. “I haven’t decided yet. Because as infuriating as it is he did what he did, and the consequences of it, I understand why he did what he did.”

And now I understood his aggravation.

Tanyn kept talking.

“And he broke his NDA, but he didn’t break any other laws. Nevertheless, I can sue for damages, and I’d win. But that would lead to a PR fiasco. On the other hand, I can’t keep him on and pay him what he should earn, that wouldn’t be sending the right message to the other staff. During questioning, he also told us that he wished he hadn’t done it, because he was horrified about what happened on Sigil, and worried he was the reason why. We confirmed he was, and it was clear he was wrecked at that knowledge.”

Consequences sucked, and unfortunately, this time they sucked for more than just the being who caused them.

Tanyn kept going.

“He also shared, just this morning, Camaryn and Barret had a staff meeting to inform them you wanted to meet everyone and had instructed them to provide a report so we can begin remunerating them appropriately. So now he feels like an absolute dick.”

I could imagine.

Tanyn continued, “We did all the checks before we pulled him in. He has zero ties to Arnaud and Tatra, as he wouldn’t, because he detests them. Now, I’m leaning toward paying him off, sacking him and having him sign another NDA, understanding that he only gets one strike. If he talks again, I will not be so lenient. Though, he won’t be here, so he won’t have anything to talk about, except Arnaud and Tatra.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” I said.

Tanyn studied me for so long without saying anything, I was forced to ask, “What?”

“You didn’t read the article.”

“I read enough. Though,” I went on curiously, “does it get worse?”

“No, because there isn’t anything bad to say about you. You’re gorgeous. You have an interesting job. You’re best friends with the True Bride. Your father is an upstanding citizen of the Fall and known for his philanthropy. And you don’t avoid the Edge and are known to visit often for vacation, thus, you and your family have spent a good deal of money as well as time here.”

“Well then,” I mumbled.

“Although this was shared, it was sneeringly, Cat,” he stated. “They didn’t have enough threads to spin, but they did their best to spin it so you were portrayed negatively. Mira reports it’s all over the tapes.”

“All right.”

Tanyn studied me again, even closer.

So I repeated, “What?”

“You’re not upset about this?”