AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Acting like strangers was where he and his brothers were at.
Adam had gone on the attack when pushed, hostile and aggressive. “Don’t twist what’s happened so that I’m responsible for this mess.”
And him, defensive, ready to strike back. “I wasn’t assigning blame. But thanks for showing where your true feelings lie.”
Seth blinked slowly as the words repeated in his head, remembering the anger in his voice, the way his lip had curled after saying the last line.
When had they started to see each other as opponents first, brothers second?
Then the answer hit Seth harder than any punch he’d received from a drunk foster parent or thug on the streets.
When they’d started to lose trust in each other.
At the time when backing each other was their biggest defense against an unknown, unseen enemy, all five of them were instead exposed, vulnerable.
The truth was right now he and his brothers were their own worst enemy.
* * *
Seth sat in Stanton Fox’s office and battled the urge to clench his fists. Ten minutes and not an inch of progress had been made. “Stanton, if you don’t make a statement reflecting your disgust regarding someone impersonating me online, you’ll be validating their behavior.”
“I’m not responsible for someone else’s actions, Seth. You’ve issued a statement, which is your right.” Fox shrugged with a casualness that belied the shrewdness in his gaze. “My responsibility is to my board of directors and shareholders.”
Nice side-step. “Those same people had no problem yesterday with our deal.”
Fox didn’t blink. “A lot can happen in twenty-four hours.” He lifted a hand before dropping it back on his desk. “Find this imposter you mention and bring them to heel. Such a show of good faith will appease our board and we’ll be back on track.”
“Dillon and I have started our hunt.” With limited results. Traces on servers showed they were dealing with an accomplished hacker, with a trail routed through servers ranging from parts of Asia, Russia and the Middle East. “Since my brother was targeted in one post, his captain is keen to have the matter solved. The FBI will be investigating.”
Dillon leaned forward in his seat next to Seth, his upper body tense. “Our servers were hacked from the outside. This isn’t some playacting on social media. A cybercrime was committed.”
Fox slid his gaze to Dillon. “The problem for my company is one of perception. At Brooke-Porter Digital we take our corporate image and reputation seriously. This morning a post made under Seth’s name maligned this company. That kind of incident can’t be ignored.”
Seth kept his voice even, refusing to allow his frustration to show. “And the lowering of your offer is a face-saver for your board, except the general public would not hear of the new lower offer so there’s no public relations value in the move.”
Fox slanted his mouth in wry line. “I understand you could see it that way.”
This was getting them nowhere. “So you’re saying until we find the perp, Shazad has to wear the cost—literally—of those posts.”
“Those?” Fox lifted a brow.
Seth’s voice hardened. “The one involving your daughter.”
Fox’s eyes flashed. Whether it was with anger or frustration at being called out on his lack of parental concern, Seth wasn’t sure and didn’t give a damn. The fact that Fox hadn’t yet raised the issue of Harper and what had happened to her this morning was more telling.
Where was a father’s outrage? Was his lack of concern because the prick had set Seth up, or was he really so self-involved the shaming of his daughter came in a poor second?
“Yes, that was most regrettable, not only for Harper but also for her family. Obviously, I’ll be in contact with my daughter,” Fox said in a flat tone.
Christ, it was hard to believe the little café owner was the daughter of such a narcissistic, cold bastard.
“Glad to hear it. She’s had a rough morning and could do with some reassurance she’s not to blame.” Seth’s message wasn’t subtle, nor was it meant to be.
“Indeed,” Dillon said. “Bringing us back to our earlier conversation, what you’re saying Stanton is your current offer of sixty million stays until Shazad can bring about a more positive conclusion to what happened this morning.”
That’s why Dillon was there. He could speak bullshit far better than Seth.
“I’m sure we’ll find a comfortable level,” Fox settled back in his chair with an exaggerated casualness. “Eventually.”
