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The morning commute was a nightmare, and I felt like I was driving through molasses. I parked my Lexus next to Chase's Escalade and bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time to burn off some energy. When I reached the second floor, I saw that the break room was deserted. Everyone was gathered in the conference room for our staff meeting. Daniel was fiddling with the sound system at the podium as I strode in. I made a beeline for the front table where my partners were seated and set up my laptop with a confident flourish. Chase shot me a concerned look, furrowing his brow. "What's eating you, man?"
"I just can't fathom it," I muttered, irritation dripping from my words. "Why do Amy's parents despise me so vehemently?" I kept my voice low, mindful of Courtney's ears lurking nearby.
Chase shook his head. "Dunno, man, but you've gotta let it go. You're well aware you weren't complicit in her misfortune."
I acquiesced with a nod, but the tightness in my gut remained. It pained me that Amy's parents couldn't perceive my innocence and the depth of my concern for her.
"If only they'd grant me an opportunity," I murmured, overcome with defeat.
Chase's hand landed on my shoulder, reassuring me. "Don't let it get to you. They'll change their tune eventually. Meanwhile, we've got more pressing matters."
"What are you talking about? What have I missed?"
He gestured toward the profit and loss statement Daniel had just projected onto the widescreen, awash with more red than green. "Seems our plate is rather full. Let's get down to business, shall we?"
I exhaled heavily and endeavored to concentrate on our enterprise. As I kneaded the nape of my neck in a bid to dispel my worries regarding Amy's parents, I vowed that, come what may, I'd persuade her that dating me was in her best interest. The notion of brushing against those plush, inviting lips remained an uncharted fantasy— for the time being.
The meeting plodded on, delving into accounting records and sales forecasts. I strained to focus on the figures and diagrams, yet my thoughts persistently drifted to Amy. Her laughter reverberated in my ears, and her radiant, welcoming grin seemed to materialize at each turn of my mind. Her parent's disapproval notwithstanding, I couldn't dismiss the sensation that we were destined for one another.
Daniel's voice yanked me back to the present as I meandered through my daydream. "Mitch," he cried, "Can you please inform us of any updates you've received from our attorney, Joe Vandenberg?"
I blinked, feeling mortified and exposed. I had been so engrossed in my thoughts that I hadn't registered the query. "Uh," I faltered, shaking my head to dispel the haze. "I've yet to hear from Joe, but I trust he'll have something for us shortly."
Daniel's brow furrowed. "On Friday, you mentioned an update for today's meeting..."
"Ah, yes. Apologies," I admitted, chagrined anew. "I'll touch base with him tonight and ensure we obtain an update promptly."
Chase interceded, casting me a pointed glance. "All right, folks," he announced briskly. "Let's wrap this up. Lunchtime has arrived."
The office erupted in cheers, and everyone scrambled to collect their strewn mugs and laptops, ravenous for the midday reprieve. I grabbed my computer before joining the exodus from the conference room, appreciative that Chase hadn't mentioned my blatant distraction during the meeting. However, I knew my respite wouldn't last.
In a rush to depart, I felt Chase's grip on my arm. "Hold up, I'll rendezvous with you in your office. We've got to hash this out. I'll have Courtney rustle up some burgers and fries and see if she can finagle a conference call with Vandenburg later today." Chase's eyes gave my scruffy mug and rumpled suit the once-over before smirking, "You're quite the sight, aren't you?"
"I've just got a load on my mind. Lunch should help..."
Chase bobbed his head. "Right-o, buddy. I'll find you after I sift through my emails. Ah, one more thing. The FBI just delivered a fresh report."
As the lot of us devoured our greasy lunch, Chase recited the FBI dossier from the Denver outpost. It recounted the forced entry through a rear door and Amy's assault in Mitch's mountain chalet, with a bloody bedspread but no prints. DNA had been harvested but was awaiting analysis. My frown deepened with each word. Suddenly, the meal lost its savor. Whoever had committed this atrocious act remained at large, and Amy had suffered grievously. Fear and fury seethed within me.
Brad chimed in; his brow furrowed in thought. "This intel implies the culprit knew of Amy's connection to us at Rosedale. How could they know? And the chalet location?"
"I can't say for certain," I muttered, raking my fingers through my hair. "Frankly, it's not a difficult connection. Amy's a regular at Rosedale shindigs, and the property records would divulge my chalet’s address."
Chase nodded in agreement. "It's the only plausible conclusion. Someone must be spilling the beans...but who?"
Silence descended as we mulled over the newly unveiled information and tried to reconstruct the event. "It's wearing me out, guessing who's behind it all. For now, our priority should be safeguarding ourselves and refocusing on profits," Chase advised, eyeing his wristwatch. "I'll touch base with Courtney to check on her progress with Vandenburg."
Our lunchtime chatter veered from Amy's plight to the company's financial prospects.
A knock on my office door preceded Courtney's face appearing in the gap. "I bring tidings of joy," she proclaimed, grinning. "I've arranged a conference call with Vandenburg for this afternoon. He mentioned an update on the patent lawsuit against Valley Technologies."
"Nice going, Courtney," I responded, a sense of relief washing over me. "Let's gather in my office for the call at 3:00 pm."
"Understood," she affirmed, departing the room, and leaving us to finish eating.
Chase slapped me on the back. "See, Mitch? The tide is turning. We'll unravel this lawsuit mess, and for now, you should focus on the things within your grasp. Like Rosedale, not Amy or her folks!"
Brad bobbed his head. "He's right. Our eyes need to be on the grand scheme of things. Valley Tech moving forward with the California cybersecurity system update is a massive deal. We have to guard our intellectual property, even if it meant relinquishing the grant money to save Amy. Our private lives cannot disrupt the business."
