Chapter 14
Daniel
“Send me the notes from the meeting today and copy our lawyers.”
I left Chris in my office and took the elevator to the eleventh floor.
Something Howard said got Lydia nervous in the meeting. She drank water with her back to me, but I could tell that her body language changed. And when she turned around and Howard said that we should move things along more quickly, I could have sworn she shook her head at me.
Maybe she noticed something I didn’t. Or maybe she wanted to talk privately about something personal.
You wish.
I found her waiting outside the containment room, where there were two security guards with her. I nodded to them and walked into the room with her, closing the door behind me and keeping at least five feet from her. She looked around the room and back at me.
“What is this place?”
“Containment room. It’s private, no cameras and sound proof.”
“Oh.”
“It doesn’t get more private than this, but if you’re uncomfortable—”
She shook her head. “No, this is important. I think.”
I leaned back on the wall, watching her pace.
“Okay. A few things have been bothering me. I told you I was out of it a few weeks ago, when I… you know.”
When I caused your panic attack. “Yes. You were researching Ethan.”
“I’m still putting things together in my head so I’ll try not to make a mess of it.
When I was reading about Howard, I looked at the companies he bought.
None of which were tech, by the way. I also looked at the companies he’s a major shareholder in.
Also no tech except for one. Condukt. I read about you before I started on your floor. ”
I smiled. “You researched me?”
She just shook her head, ignoring my flirtatious tone. “Yes, of course I did. Rebecca worked there, didn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“It was only now in the meeting that I remembered reading about Rebecca’s start there.”
“So what? Howard is a shareholder in a company that competes with Vale. Condukt is huge. They wouldn’t see Vale as real competition.”
“Would that change with her new deal?”
I pushed myself off the wall. She was making me nervous.
“It would, wouldn’t it?” she continued. “And Howard, when you asked about Dallas, he answered and I felt okay, but then when you asked why telematics, he lied. I know he did. When he came in, when he shook my hand, everything about him… I can’t explain it, but it’s wrong.”
“Like the courier.”
“Yes, but not out of place like him.”
She was right about that guy. I’d already found out a few weeks ago that the courier was switched mid-route. Whoever delivered the package wasn’t from the delivery company.
“Explain. What do you mean?”
She shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. The thing is, all of this wouldn’t matter if it weren’t for Brad.”
“Becca’s Brad?”
“When she praised him, he was proud of himself until she mentioned shipping and something changed.”
I could practically hear her mind racing, and I was getting just as nervous as she was. I walked up to her, clenching my fists to stop myself from grabbing her shoulders.
“Lydia, stop pacing. Give me your theory, worst case.”
She stopped and looked up at me. “Brad told someone at Condukt about the deal, including what company would handle the shipment. Condukt figured out what telematics solution the shipping company uses, which unfortunately for them, is owned by the Mason family, but is small enough to buy, so they use an investor to buy it. Once they own it, they can access the shipment data. I looked into what that company does—they would be able to divert trucks and ships, delay shipments, even destroy cargo. By the time her products are shipped, she would have already invested months into designing and manufacturing thousands. Condukt isn’t just trying to take the deal from her, they’re trying to bankrupt Vale. Worst case scenario, I mean.”
I couldn’t say anything, so I just stared at her. It was a crazy theory, but it made sense, and Howard did seem off. It all relied on Brad selling Becca out.
“There’s no reception here. Come on.”
We walked out and stood by the door, facing each other. I called Chris first and told him to cancel all my meetings. Then I called Rebecca.
“My place, alone, urgent.”
“I’ll be there.”
I felt a cold hand on my wrist and looked down at Lydia. She pulled her hand away, but I could still feel it, and I thanked god she couldn’t see the instant goosebumps that went up my arm under my long sleeves.
“Mr. Mason, what if I’m wrong?”
I shook my head. “What if you’re right? It’s too big a risk not to at least check. Come on, you’re coming too.”
She followed me quietly to the parking lot.
I wanted to feel her hands again.
“Are you okay with us taking the bike? We’ll get there faster.”
She looked at my bike with wide eyes and nodded.
Thank fuck.
I took a small jacket out of my car’s trunk. I had bought it over a year ago when I started dating someone, but we broke up before I gave it to her, so it just stayed forgotten in the trunk.
“I don’t have full protective gear that would fit you, but this jacket should.” I gave her a small pair of gloves and helped her put on my extra helmet.
I’ll buy her a full set if she’s willing to ride with me.
“Can you get up here? Use these as steps. I can lift—”
“No, I can do it.” She waited for me to get on and then used the pegs.
I turned on the helmet coms. “Can you hear me ok?”
“Yes.”
“Put your arms around me.”
Please.
Lydia leaned forward slightly, and my heart started pounding when her arms touched my waist.
“Tell me if you want to stop.”
“I’m fine, Mr. Mason.”
The ride to my building was short, but I relished every moment. Every turn, every bump that made her grip tighten on me… I wanted it to last forever.
How inappropriate would it be to ask her to go for a ride with me sometime?