Page 17 of Falling for Mr. Ruthless
A beat of silence. "Excuse me?"
"Cancel the meeting, Phillip." I check my watch. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Jakob, I don't think?—"
"Twenty minutes." I hang up before he can finish.
Tyson watches me, face unreadable. "What are you going to do?"
"Handle it." I grab my suit jacket off the back of my chair.
"Handle it how?" He falls into step beside me as I stride toward the door. "This is exactly what we were concerned about. Someone's using your history against you."
"Against her," I correct him, punching the elevator button with more force than necessary. "They're using me against her."
"Same difference." He follows me into the elevator. "The question is who."
I already know who. Or at least, I have a strong suspicion. Only one person benefits from destabilizing the audit. Only one person has both the motive and the access.
Margana Ardano.
I don't say Megan’s name aloud. Don't give her that power.
"It doesn't matter who," I tell Tyson as the elevator descends. "What matters is shutting it down."
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
The doors open to the lobby. I step out, Tyson at my heels.
"By reminding them what happens when they cross me."
Phillip Gardner's office at Rowe Stratton & Vale occupies the corner of the forty-first floor—a testament to seniority rather than power. Real power doesn't need the view.
He's not alone when I arrive. Wilton Hayes, RSV's managing partner, sits in one of the leather chairs facing Phillip's desk. His presence confirms my suspicion: this is more serious than Phillip let on.
"Jakob." Wilton stands, hand extended. "Unexpected pleasure."
I take his hand briefly. "Wish I could say the same."
Phillip gestures to the remaining chair. "Have a seat."
I don't. Instead, I move to the window, looking out at the city while I gather my thoughts. Let them wait. Let them feel the imbalance.
"I understand the partners have concerns about the audit," I say finally, turning to face them. "Specifically, about Chanel Warren's leadership."
Wilton nods, all calm authority and measured reason. "There have been some irregularities?—"
"Fabricated irregularities." I cut him off.
"That's a serious accusation." Phillip removes his glasses—a nervous tell.
"Not an accusation. A fact." I step away from the window. "Someone is attempting to compromise the audit by targeting Ms. Warren. I want to know what you're doing about it."
Wilton and Phillip exchange glances.
"We're investigating the security breaches," Phillip says carefully. "But there's still the matter of Ms. Warren's… personal connection to you."
"Which she didn't disclose," Wilton adds.
