Chapter 20
20
“You’re sure?” Chet asks too loudly for the nice restaurant we’re sitting in.
Several of the other patrons who are enjoying leisurely business lunches stare at our table.
“First of all.” I lean forward and say with a much more appropriate volume, “Keep your voice down. You’re attracting unwanted attention. Secondly, yes. I’m certain.”
“How can you be certain?” he demands, not sparing our server a passing glance as our meals are placed in front of us.
“Thank you,” I murmur before glaring at the man seated across from me who is squinting skeptically. “Can you please be a little more polite?”
“No. I can’t. Another design was sold last week. A competitor paid two point four million for it. If they get to market with a viable prototype first, then all the money I’ve sunk into this R they’re not financial plans. They’re engineering designs.” He sits back in his chair and shrugs. “The logical conclusion is that someone on the R&D team is leaking them. No one else at Chester has access to prototypes that aren’t in production yet.”
I sip my water and consider this. “How is information funneled between the various divisions of Chester? Surely, a handful of people have access to everything to ensure smooth communication.”
“No,” he insists, shaking his head. “Honestly, I didn’t see any reason to fund an R&D department. It was my COO’s idea. I agreed to launch it on a trial basis. If it provides no value to the company, then it’ll be dismantled.”
Peter is at least aware of this contingency. He admitted that it’s part of the reason he’s so invested in fostering a cohesive, supportive team culture at Chester Paramus. He wants to prove to Chet that they are, in fact, invaluable to his company. That can’t be accomplished in an environment where every engineer is in competition with each other .
“Is there anyone else at Chester who agreed with you that an R&D division would be a waste of money? Someone who stands to gain something—even if it’s only your trust—by sabotaging this venture?” I ask.
“No.” He doesn’t sound happy about that admission. “Everyone at the highest levels is vested with equal shares since Chester is still considered a start-up company. If this division fails, then we all lose. We’re on shaky ground. No one wants to see this experiment go under.”
“Someone does,” I point out. “The only other logical option is that you’re setting this up for another one of your games.”
“I’m not,” he swears. “I know we didn’t keep in touch after I left campus, but I’m a changed man, Elise. I don’t play those games anymore.”
I squint at him. “I will reserve judgment on that until you’ve proven yourself. To me. I would be remiss to simply take your word for it.”
He shakes his head. “Or I could fire you right now and save myself the trouble.”
I stand and fish some bills out of my purse, which I throw on the table to cover the cost of my lunch. “You could, but you won’t.”
“Why not?” He glares at me.
“Because then you would prove me right. And you hate being wrong, Chet.”
“Son of a bitch,” he mutters to his lunch before raising his gaze to me again. “You are a better chess player than me.”
“It’s a curse, not a gift. Send me those security logs. Then, I want you to make a list of all the enemies you’ve accumulated over the years.”
“Why do you need that?” he questions with more squinty eyes.
“Examining any potential links to your known enemies rather than suspecting your loyal employees is basic deductive reasoning. I would assume the private investigators you’ve hired have already chased these leads, but you know what happens when we assume things.”
He scoffs then pales. This is clearly an avenue he hasn’t pursued already.
I pat his cheek in parting. “Oh, Chet. Many people are better at playing chess than you. The longer you think of yourself as special, the worse off you will continue to be.”
“You’re a real bitch sometimes, you know that?” he calls after me.
“Yes. That’s why you both love and trust me,” I call back.
I ignore the stares of the other restaurant patrons as I make my way out into the snow that swirls in the winter air.
A Caribbean cruise sounds fantastic right about now.