24. Iris
Chapter twenty-four
Iris
M y mouth drops open. I stare at them in disbelief.
“I did not hack into New Mexico’s IT system and exfiltrate that PowerPoint,” I say. “That’s a ridiculous accusation.”
“You can come clean now,” Colby says. “I’ve told them all the truth. And I’m stepping down. But I feel it’s only right that you step down too.”
Have I entered an alternate reality?
“We don’t blame you,” Xavier says. “I know that Colby told you to do it and so you had to listen. But I wish you had come to me or at least confessed when I caught you in the closet.”
“Kevin showed us that your credentials were the ones used,” Bob says.
My credentials?
No way.
My heartrate accelerates—and not in a good way.
I stare at Colby. I have no idea why he’s fabricated this story, but it’s a complete lie. Is he trying to save Kevin?
“I didn’t do it. And my credentials were not used.” I stare at Xavier and Bob because they’ve got to be the sane ones still here. My hands shake. I stick them between my legs and bend forward.
“Colby?” Xavier asks, looking at his brother.
“I’m your brother,” Colby says. “You’re going to believe her over me?”
“I’m not resigning,” I say, my voice low and hoarse. It doesn’t sound like me. “I didn’t do it. You can fire me, and I’ll sue you for wrongful termination. There’s no way you’ll win.”
Let’s hope that’s true. I just know that it wasn’t me. There has to be a way to prove it wasn’t me.
I have to find the person who did do it.
Xavier folds his arms. My gut suddenly feels funny. Bad funny.
Xavier knows Colby is willing to lie and cheat to get ahead. And it’s far more likely that Colby had Kevin on his side than that he didn’t.
“I didn’t do it,” I say. I hate that it sounds like I’m pleading. I straighten my shoulders, planting my hands on my thighs, and speak more firmly. “You heard Colby and Kevin in that room. They’re in on this together. I’m being blamed, but I’m sure they hired an outside white hat hacker. There’s even that partially executed agreement in the files. Why would that exist if it was me?”
Xavier first stares at his brother, but Colby smirks in response and shakes his head. Xavier eyes Bob with a quick sideways glance. The answer is almost an imperceptible nod. They’re wavering.
“All right, let’s hire an outside firm to investigate,” Xavier says. “You’ll be put on paid leave in the meantime. Here’s the paid leave agreement Sebastian drafted.”
Sebastian drafted? Sebastian knew ?
My stomach pitches like I’m no longer on solid ground and the boat just hit a swell. My hand shakes as I pick up the terms. I look down to read them, but I can’t see the words. Sebastian knew ? I can feel tears welling in my eyes. I can’t cry . I stare at the page, blinking away the tears, trying to look at the words swimming before me. But the only thing that’s flashing in my head is Sebastian drafted this .
I almost miss Xavier’s concluding sentence: “And if we find out you did steal the documents, you’ll be fired.” He takes a breath, and his tone lowers. “I expect honesty.”
Fired . My face flushes.
I don’t have much faith in an outside forensic firm if Kevin decides who is hired.
“Security will escort you out.” Xavier thrusts his splayed hand towards the door.
I know I’m supposed to get up and leave. But my legs feel like jelly. My teeth clench as I will myself to stand straight and walk out, the paper clutched close to my heart. How could Sebastian not tell me?
Security is waiting for me in the hallway. The officer ducks his head, as if embarrassed.
Heat flushes through my body. How dare they accuse me. I stride ahead of security to the elevator. I’ll see myself out.
And I’ll figure out who the hacker is. Raphael knew something. Did he think he was going to be set up to take the fall? Was he warning me that I was being set up to take the fall with that “don’t trust anyone” book?
If that was your warning, Raphael, be a little less opaque next time. What the—?
But Raphael was definitely terminated, so he must have figured something out—and they got rid of him. And now they’re trying to get rid of me.
I’ve looked through all the files. There must be some clue I overlooked.
Reggie meets me in the lobby with my coat, my backpack, and various personal items from the top of my desk.
It is surreal.
And it’s only when I’m standing outside on the street, holding a box of my personal effects, that the enormity of what just occurred hits me.
I was accused of hacking into the system to retrieve the PowerPoints.
I’ve been escorted out.
That’s my reputation—my ability to work in this industry. My stomach churns as I hug the flimsy cardboard box to my chest.
Kevin—who definitely orchestrated this—is in charge of the investigation to prove my innocence.
I lean against the stone building. It’s cold and hard. A gray fog hangs in the wet air, and I didn’t bring an umbrella again. The sky darkens. A drop of rain falls. I pick up my box and run to the subway entrance, down the stairs, and into the corner by the station booth.
I’m about to lose my job.
And Sebastian. Just when I thought I could trust him.
A wave of dizziness passes over me. I crumple back against the wall, but then pull away. It’s probably not clean. Indeed, the white subway tiles are cracked and streaked with grime. The harsh glare of the fluorescent lighting above illuminates all of its flaws. I should have known Kevin was up to something. Maddie warned me. I thought I could outsmart him.
I want to lean against the wall. But I have to center myself on my own two feet. "Here’s the paid leave agreement that Sebastian drafted."
I fall back slightly with one shoulder against the wall. Get it together, Iris .
The station attendant in his glass-paneled booth is helping a tourist with directions, speaking slowly and clearly into his microphone. She translates for the rest of her group.
I take a deep breath. I will figure this out yet.
Faith is still up there—she’s going to think I forgot about her. I put my box down, trying to balance it on my feet so the cardboard doesn’t get wet. I text her that I had a work emergency and we’re still on for later this week.
I call Raphael again and leave him a message telling him what’s going on, ending it with a desperate plea: “Raphael, I know you signed an NDA, but please figure out some way to tell me what you figured out so I can save my reputation. Kevin is in charge. They’re saying the hacker used my credentials. Please . This is my career.”
I pick up the box. How dare Kevin and Colby besmirch my name?
Did Sebastian know ? Did he draft my leave agreement, or could that have been a generic agreement he drafted for anyone on administrative leave?
I clutch the cardboard box as my chest tightens in pain.
Please let it be that he just drafted the generic agreement— not the one specifically meant for me .
I shiver. Please .
I can’t believe he drafted this for me and didn’t tell me.
But is Sebastian a “straight arrow” who won’t want to be with me now that I’ve been accused of fraud?
Accused of fraud .
I feel nauseated.
He fought with Melody when she stole a bathroom robe. I’m accused of stealing confidential company secrets. “ But I learned my lesson that company property was definitely not mine for the taking.”
I call Tessa because I might need legal counsel. She doesn’t pick up, and I leave a voicemail message explaining what happened. Then I call Maddie. No answer. Same message. My voice cracks as I finish repeating what happened.
My finger hovers over Sebastian’s name.
Did he draft this for me and not tell me? And if he didn’t, what is he going to think? Is he going to believe them? Are we already over?
I want to call him. I swallow the lump in my throat, and my body flushes hot and cold again. I was just accused of stealing proprietary information, escorted from the premises. Will he believe me? What if he wants to break up? What if he does have some perfect ideal? I wasn’t enough for Patrick. I don’t think I can take Sebastian’s rejection too right now.
I call my brother.