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“Youneed taking care of,” Chloe insisted. “A nice massage, a beautiful lunch, with wine and dessert, and a little something to help you sleep.”
Internally, I cringed. As tired as I was, sleeping was the last thing I wanted to do while visions of masked intruders danced in my head, ridiculous or not.
“Maybe I’ll try to get into something later, but for now… I need to figure out what’s going on with my computer. Everything connects to my home network – my laptop, my desktop, my phone, my security system – hell, even my car connects.”
Chloe nodded. “Yeah, we have to get that taken care of. You’re sure there’s nothing I need to know about on your phone, your computer, none of that?Beforeit gets out to the public,” she said pointedly, because of course, that’s where her mind would go. Friend or not, she handled the publicity for my brand, and by extension, me.
She wanted to know if she was about to have yet another fire to put out.
“No,” I told her, shaking my head. “Or at least not easily. All of the important things forVivid Vixenare password protected, encrypted all of that, but notonmy computer. Still…”
“Right. You’re lucky you noticed it was happening before it got too far. Do you have someone in mind?”
At first, my mind went to the name and address Wick had written down for me, but I shook my head. “No. Do you have a recommendation?”
There wasnoway I was using the person Wick had written down for me. Not until I had more time to figure out that situation.
Chloe’s face spread into a smile. “Oh, yes ma’am I do. I’ll send you to my personal favorite. I use them for everything. Even legal.”
I frowned. “You… use a computer security firm for legal work?”
“No,” Chloe laughed. “The people I use, they have like… a collective. A bunch of former law enforcement and government agents, in a whole suite downtown, with a tech store, a security firm, and a law firm. And a gym, interestingly enough. The gym came first though.”
“Seriously?”
She nodded. “Seriously. Five Star Enterprises. I’ll text you the address.”
“And you said it’s right downtown? Never heard of it.”
“Because younevergo anywhere,” Chloe teased as she picked up her phone. “Perhaps if you did something other than work and go home…”
I sucked my teeth. “Whatever Chloe. I do other things… sometimes… on occasion.”
“Of course you do, doll. That’s why you’re having dinner with me, Blake, Nubia, and Kora tomorrow night. No excuses. It’s been too long.”
I raised my hands in consent. “Fine. No excuses. As long as they have good wine, I’m there.”
“Perfect. I’ll text you the information for Five Star Tech.”
“Actually,” I sighed. “Write it down for me. I’m leaving my phone off, just in case, until I get it looked at.”
“Ooh, probably smart. I can do that. And Monica… I’mnotkidding about tomorrow night.”
“Iknow,” I told her, smiling. I was beyond grateful for friendship – my friends were the only thing keeping me human these days.
“You’re sure? Because I’ll drag you there myself, if I have to.”
“Chloe, I will be there, I promise. There isnothingthat will keep me from having dinner with my favorite women in the world tomorrow night.”
Damn. Maybe Chloe was right, and Idoneed to get out more.
As I climbed out of my car, in the huge parking lot reserved for the block of businesses that encompassedFive Star Enterprises, I shook my head. I’d driven past this place what had to be a million times and never noticed it, but… it wasn’t as if I spent much time noticing my surroundings.
I was always on the phone, always obsessing over this or that. A new marketing plan, new hand cream formula, fresh color lines, cute polish names. Sometimes I got from home to theVivid Vixenoffices with no recollection of even making the drive, because my mind was so occupied with everything else.
This was cool though.
The majority of the storefront space was taken up by a large gym,Five Star Fitness.Next to that was a door with a similar logo, only that one readFive Star Security.The next one wasFive Star Legal Services,and finally, was the one I needed –Five Star Technology.
