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“It’s okay,” I said. “I promise you—I’ve increased my security significantly, both here and outside of work. I’m taking no chances, and neither is Gabe. And neither are you, for that matter.”
She bit her lip. “Are you scared?”
“I’m concerned, but we have resources, and we’re using them.” I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Everything’s going to be fine. I swear.”
Hannah looked pale. “Okay.”
I could tell she was putting on a brave face for me, which only added fuel to my fire.
I finally made it to my office. I had a brief conference call with my legal team, including Bethany O’Donnell, and I let them know I’d decided not to have Clive arrested at this point. We argued, but I explained myself, and then I also explained that I was paying them to offer their advice, not to shove it down my throat. After hanging up I answered emails listlessly, dread coating my stomach. A message from Leo popped up on my laptop. It was Clive Warren’s schedule for the day. I scanned it, searching for something I could use. Clive had been holed up in his office for weeks, but apparently he had outside business that day.
Perfect. For once, so did I.
Adrenaline thrummed through me as I made my decision, a decision I would keep to myself. Gabe would forbid me from my current plan of action.
That’s why I wasn’t going to tell him until it was over and done with.
I looked at the clock—only three hours to go. With renewed urgency, I jumped back into my work. I opened up the reports for the patch’s most recent trials and worked on the algorithms. No matter what else happened, Paragon’s patch would launch first. Failure was not an option.
My phone buzzed an hour later. It was Gabe.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” he said. “How’s it going?”
“Fine.” I willed my voice not to betray me. “I’m just working on my reports. I spoke with my security manager. They’re increasing our coverage. And Leo and Dave seem like they’ve hit it off.”
“I know. I just spoke to Dave.”
“Oh?” I swallowed hard. “What’d he have to report?”
“Nothing much.” His tone was casual, and I detected no suspicion. “He said they were trying to find more emails.”
“Did you speak to your colleague in China?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.
“I did. He wasn’t that helpful. The only thing he really knew about Li Na is that she has a reputation for being a ruthless negotiator.”
I snorted. I could have guessed as much.
“Are you staying in your office for the rest of the day?”
“Yes.” I crossed my fingers under my desk, hating myself for being less than truthful with him. “I’ll come straight to your house after work.”
Gabe didn’t speak for a second. “Why are you being so agreeable?”
“I’m not. I’m just being polite.”
“Huh.” He didn’t sound like he believed me.
“I’ll see you later.” I hoped my tone soothed him. “Okay?”
“Okay,” Gabe said, but for the second time that day, he didn’t sound as if he really meant it.
I took a deep breath before I made my final decision to go. I buzzed Eddie. “I need something from you.”
“Yes ma’am?”
“I need…surveillance equipment. That I can wear on my body.”
