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“That would mean we’d need to access the program they use for flagging downloads,” Ryan said, showing that food improved his mental ability. “And if we start looking at that, we’ll scare people off. I mean, none of us have official access. People are going to talk if we suddenly start checking who’s downloading what.”
“But,” Elle said, her eyes wide, “we’re the only ones with access to the ghost program, and that’s on all computers. I can reconfigure it to send us an alarm when something’s downloading.”
Harvard reached for more pizza and put another slice on Rachel’s plate for her too. “How long will that take?”
“An hour, maybe.” Elle narrowed her eyes at him. “It depends when I get my laptop back.”
“Will this work?” Rachel asked them. “Will it help us catch the thief?”
“It will help us get a damn sight closer, that’s for sure,” Harvard said.
And he got the first smile he’d had from her in days. Of course, she was probably smiling about the end of their mission being in sight, which meant she could get rid of him. But hell, he’d take whatever he could get. A smile was still a smile.
“Coming back here must feel like putting on a favorite pair of shoes,” Jonathan said as he stood at Rachel’s side the next morning, looking out over the TayFor complex. “I never understood why you walked away from this. You were born to run the family business.” He gave her a self-effacing smile. “I wanted that for you. Even though I’m the eldest, I always felt as though I was born to support you.”
Rachel kept her eyes on the manicured grounds. Her brother was right; it did feel a lot like coming home. It was all she’d ever dreamed of—an office in this building, a place in the heritage her family had built. She turned her back on the view to glance around her office. Dreams changed, and she didn’t regret her choices.
“You don’t need me here, Jonathan.” She strode across the thick gray carpet and took a seat behind the sleek glass and steel monstrosity that made up her desk. If this had been her permanent office, the desk would have been gone. At least her gorgeous red office chair sat behind it, and she didn’t have to suffer the torture of the previous chair. “You’ve done a fine job running the company. I know Father’s proud and has no regrets putting you in charge.”
“Oh, I can do the job.” He turned to rest against the windowsill, his hands in the pockets of his blue pinstripe suit. “But you were the one with a passion for it.”
“And what exactly would you have done if I were at the helm? Wandered the world surfing?” Her lips twitched into a smile. It was a standing joke. Jonathan was terrible at watersports.
“I rather thought I’d help with the legal side of the business. After all, I do have a law degree that’s woefully underused.”
“Not sure how Preston would feel about sharing. He does enjoy being in charge of his little kingdom.”
“There is that. But dealing with Preston’s still preferable to being CEO. My job is endless meetings and issuing orders.” He grinned at her, suddenly looking much younger than his thirty-six years. “See what I mean? That’s more up your street than mine. The first words you ever spoke were an order. I remember distinctly. You looked me in the eye and said, Joh, gimme, then pointed at that damn stuffed rabbit.”
“You totally made up that story. I still can’t believe the parents believed it.”
“I didn’t make it up,” Jonathan said. “You’re a born leader and you belong here.”
“Jonathan,” she cautioned.
“Just think about it.” He straightened his suit. “Use this time with us as sort of a trial run—to see if you still have an interest in the place and think you might fit here. That’s all I’m asking.”
“It won’t make any difference.”
Jonathan shrugged before walking to the door. “Then there’s no harm in trying, is there? If you need anything, shout out. I’m in meetings most of the day, but my PA can interrupt if it’s urgent.” He hesitated. “Do you think this trap will work?”
“I have no idea,” Rachel said honestly. “But right now, we don’t have a clue how the information is being stolen. This could give us that, at least.”
“Then I’ll try to act suit
ably surprised when the email circulates saying we have a problem.”
“You do that.” Although his acting sucked, so Rachel wasn’t sure he could pull it off.
“Hi, Jonathan,” Elle said as she passed him on her way into Rachel’s office. “Looking dapper today.”
Jonathan blushed and mumbled something before disappearing into the corridor.
“You do that on purpose,” Rachel accused once the door closed behind her brother.
“He’s so cute when he blushes. I can’t resist.”
“His wife thinks his blushes are cute too.”
