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"Don't worry about it, Maya," he said, putting his arm around me. "We're on vacation, remember? Let's just enjoy ourselves."
I didn't say anything else, but the tension between us lingered for the rest of the day.
Jack apologized later that night, in more ways than one.
The next day, while Eli and I were playing in the sand, we bumped into Christine and Ben Dwayne, who also happened to be on vacation. I thought it was a little weird that we randomly met them here in San Diego, but Jack swore up and down it had nothing to do with business and that they just happened to be here.
I let it go because they had a son about the same age as Eli and they latched on to each other. And Christine was so friendly and kind, it was nice to talk to her.
Jack invited them over for lunch but got it catered instead of us scrambling to make something. Okay, so maybe there's part of him having money that I truly didn't mind.
It was fun, and the kids played together in the sand of the private beach while we sat on the patio under the umbrella.
But pretty soon, Jack and Ben were talking business. Jack was showing off a bit for the Dwaynes but I could tell he was enjoying himself. It just bugged me how he had a way of making a lot of things about his business. While I admired his dedication, it still annoyed me a bit. It was one of the very few things that frustrated me about him.
After lunch, we all went for a walk along the beach. The sun was shining, and the waves were crashing against the shore. I could feel myself relaxing even more as I walked with my family and our new friends. It was such a beautiful day.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of fun and relaxation. We went swimming, played beach volleyball, and watched the sunset. It was one of the best days of my life.
Still, I felt a chill in my bones, like this was just the calm before the storm. Nothing could be perfect like this forever. Something was coming. Something big.
Chapter 26
Jack
Iwokeuptothe sound of my phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. I groggily reached for it, half-expecting it to be a simple early morning work emergency since no one ever disturbed me when I was at home. But what I saw shocked me awake faster than a thousand cups of coffee ever could.
Missed calls, voicemails, texts, and emails–all from my employees, board members, and business partners.
I felt a chill run down my spine and through my limbs, turning my stomach to lead.
Something's wrong. Something's wrong.
I looked down at Maya, still sound asleep with her head resting on my chest. I hated to wake her up, but I had to go. She stirred slightly as I tried to slip out of her embrace, her lips spread in a cute yawn that made her nose scrunch up. I chuckled, the dread in my bones easing a little, kissing her gently on the forehead, and whispered, "I'll be back soon, love. Emergency at the company…"
As I rushed to get dressed, I tried to calm my racing heart and slow my frantic thoughts but it was almost impossible. Whatever this emergency was, I hoped and prayed that I could handle it. I've faced countless challenges in my career as a tech entrepreneur–this couldn’t be any worse than those.
I hoped.
All the other problems I have faced have never had this level of panic and fear involved though.
As I stepped into my car and started the long drive toward the office from Maya’s house, I felt a sense of dread creeping up inside me, leaving a sour taste in the back of my throat. It was not just any emergency–it was something big. Something that threatened everything I've worked for.
When I strode out of the elevator on my office floor, I could immediately tell that something was off. My assistant, Becky, who was usually calm and collected, looked pale and nervous, pacing back and forth in front of my office with a tablet in her arms.
“Becky, I’m here.”
She spun to face me, and her face looked like it had been drained of blood.
"Sir, we have a problem," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"There's an article out–a news outlet is claiming that our company is involved in a major financial scandal. They say that we stole millions of dollars from our customers using bank information that we obtained through the ZeePay app. It's all over social media, and people are already calling for your head."
She passed the tablet to me, and my heart dropped into my stomach.
It can't be true. It's not true.But the way my assistant was looking at me–with pity and disbelief–and the headline told me otherwise.
