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“Can I?” Erik asks. “I didn’t even realize he was stealing files. How can you say I’m the only one who can fix it? I’m the one who nearly ruined everything. Kurt’s company, mine, everything.” Erik lets out a shaky breath and rubs his hands over his face.
“You didn’t ruin anything. Taylor abused your trust. That’s his mistake, not yours.”
“It’s a mistake I didn’t catch. You asked me if a leak was possible, and I said no. I was kind of pissed that you asked me. My ego nearly cost us everything.” He stares absently at his computer, shaking his head.
“Your ego made us everything. It was your ego that led you to build this company and launch both our careers. It’s your ego that brings clients in the door—”
“It’s my ego that overlooked a problem I should have seen coming,” Erik interrupts.
“Maybe,” I say. “Or maybe it’s your ego that will fix things. I know you won’t let some ungrateful kid poke around in your system and get away with it. I know you can finish what Simon started and find out which file was taken. And I know that you’ll go over every line of code yourself to make sure nothing like this will ever happen again, and all that is because your ego won’t let someone else get the best of you. So I don’t see your ego as the problem. I see it as the solution.” Erik’s too smart not to realize what I’m doing, but I hope he knows every word in this little pep talk is true. He’s the smartest guy I know, and I know he’ll fix this.
“Well, at least I got one thing right.” Erik chuckles sarcastically.
“What’s that?”
“I picked the right partner. Thanks, man.” Erick claps me on the back then turns back to his computer. “So I trace the file, then what?”
“Then we talk to Jason and get a legal opinion. With the file and the timing of the RB investment into Sling, I think we could prove theft of intellectual property,” I plot aloud. “The problem with that is it would probably take years for a resolution.”
“What if you showed the evidence to RB Securities? They’d be in some sort of violation for investing off of insider information, wouldn’t they?” Erik’s hands fly over the keys, searching the path of the missing file.
“Yes, but I think they might be the root of the problem.” I run my hand through my hair.
“How so?”
“Well, Sling’s original plan was to make money off the manufacturer, not the retailer. For them to target the retailer would be a major pivot. That’s not unrealistic, but the timing is suspect. That’s what didn’t sit right with me in the first place. What are the odds they file an almost identical patent right before we file ours?”
“You think RB encouraged them to make that pivot with our information?” Erik arches an eyebrow.
“I wouldn’t have, but then I talked to the guy who runs that firm and he seemed pretty certain our patent had already been denied. I also know retail isn’t their sweet spot because it doesn’t generate the big returns. These guys like astronomical gains, and retail usually doesn’t have that. But if they think they could manipulate those returns, well, maybe that’s what we’re looking at?” Talking aloud has the effect of making me think I’ve figured out their motive.
“How do you stop it?” Erik glances up briefly before returning to his search.
“I’m hoping Sling doesn’t realize they were given someone else’s intellectual property. I know those guys, and they aren’t bad. I can’t see them orchestrating something like this. Plus, their model is solid even without the retailer component. I’m hoping they’re victims, too, and that they don’t want to get involved in this chaos.”
“You’re thinking of taking the findings to them?”
“If Jason agrees that’s the right legal move, yeah.” I nod absently as I play things out in my head. “I think that might be the fastest, cleanest way to resolve things.”
“Got it,” Erik says. He decrypts the file and finds the Swop company logo clearly visible at the top of the page. “You were right. He did manage to download the patent application.”
“I’ll call Jason.” I pull out my phone.
Chapter 22
Lisa
I read the message again, not quite believing what’s written there. A literary agent specializing in children’s books read the story I posted about how perspective can lead people to view the same event through different lenses, and she wants to talk further. Evidently the tips I received from my writer’s group were just what I needed to take my story to the next level, and an actual agent thinks it has potential.
I’m positively giddy by the time Chris knocks on the door. He must see something in my face because as soon as the door is open he reaches for me, engulfing me in a hug so fierce it steals my breath.
“Tell me,” he growls against my ear.
“Tell you what?”
“Tell me what’s making you smile like that. I don’t think it’s me, although if it is, I doubt we’re making the barbeque.” He kisses me then, taking what’s left of my breath as his fingers tenderly brush over my face.
“I got contacted by an agent. She wants to talk about one of my stories!” I squeal.
