Page 107 of The Boss

“Do you want it to be Romano Enterprises? Hmm?” I can see it on his face clear as day; he doesn’t want that.

“Hell no,” he replies with a laugh.

“So it’s settled then.”

Then we get to work, pouring over contracts and agreements, looking over everything. By the time we're done and it’s dark outside, the business we spent nearly a decade waiting to create is finally in our grasp.

FORTY-FOUR

JULIET

LATE MAY

Ryan, Drew, and I are knee-deep in data. I’m not as much of a tech person as either of them, so I’m somewhat lost in this conversation.

“The metadata behind these cell tower reports has been manipulated,” Drew says.

“How is that possible?” Ryan replies.

“I have no fucking idea, but that’s why we can’t find whoever this is. One report says they’re in the city, the next report says they’re hours away at the same time.”

“What if it’s not wrong and it’s two people?” I mumble.

Drew pinches the bridge of his nose. “Juliet, we talked about this; that seems way too coincidental.”

“But does it?” I ask.

It’s not that Drew doesn’t believe me. He’s all about coding and data, so sometimes he can’t see what’s right in front of him.

“This data doesn’t say that,” Drew says.

“But as you said, it’s been manipulated. How did you get a hold of this?” I ask.

“I hacked into the cell data from your phone after we looked at the initial report from your phone and⁠—”

He must see the look of shock on my face because he stops mid-sentence.

“What is it with the men in this friend group keeping secrets?”

I look at Ryan. He’s never lied to me or kept a secret that I know of. “Ryan, are you keeping any secrets you’d like to share?”

“Uh, nothing pertaining to this,” he replies.

“So you do have a secret?” I ask.

“I really don’t want to talk about this.”

“Talk about what?” Gino says as he strides into my office.

“Ryan’s keeping a secret,” I say, smiling at him.

“Oh, do tell,” Gino says as he walks to be next to me behind my desk.

“Okay, fine, I’ll tell you, but none of you can ask any additional questions,” Ryan relents.

Gino, Drew, and I all look at each other.

Ryan lets out a breath. “I found my dad.”