Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Bennett
Worth’s dining table would seat twenty people. I’m sitting at one end, on the phone to my head of security, Aarvi, while Efa takes a shower.
“What’s the latest?” I ask.
“Something’s happened,” Aarvi says. “We’re not sure how, but they seem to have gotten access to an encrypted part of the systems. No one’s ever done that before.”
It feels like whoever it is, they’re closing in.
“They were in for a second before another layer of security kicked in. They won’t have gotten anything.”
“You think it’s the same source targeting us each time?”
“It’s all the time, and yes, I think it’s coming from one source.”
“You think it’s my identity they’re after or something else?” I’ve asked this question of Aarvi before and she always gives me the same answer. Doesn’t stop me asking.
“I think if someone just wanted to disclose your identity, they could bribe a member of staff. It’s not like there haven’t been photographs of you out there. It’s not someone looking for who you are. It’s Fort they want.”
It makes sense this time, just like all the times she’s said it before. I don’t know why I still feel like I’m being hunted.
“So you think they want details of Project Next Generation?” We’re working on groundbreaking AI tech—highly confidential. We don’t want it getting into the wrong hands before we have the right checks and balances in place.
“Everyone who has even heard a whisper of it wants details.”
“We need to build in more security,” I say.
“Already done. I’m implementing the security plan I sent you.”
“I don’t like that they got in. Even if it was for a second.”
Efa slides her hand over my back. I look up and pull her down onto my lap, trying to ignore her bare thighs and the way her already short skirt rides up as she balances on my knee. She lays her head on my shoulder as Aarvi and I discuss other strategies for keeping the walls at Fort strong. Aarvi is all over it, and her plan doesn’t require second-guessing. Fort is in good hands, but I wonder if there’s someone out there even better who’s going to crash into our systems. Are we just sitting ducks?
Efa presses a kiss just below my ear, and I know my phone call is about to come to an end.
“So you’ll send me a revised report?” I ask.
“By close of business today. And if anything else happens, you’ll be the first to know.”
I end the call and bring my attention to Efa. I pull her across my lap so she’s sitting astride me.
“Hey,” I say. “You smell nice.”
“All clean. That rain shower is incredible.” She wraps her arms around my neck, pushing her fingers through my hair. Being with her over these last few days has been… eye-opening. I’m more relaxed around her. Happier, even. It’s good to be out of the city, with nothing to focus on but each other.
“I can get you dirty again if you want an excuse to make the most of it,” I say.
She shifts and our bodies lock together like we came out of the same mold. She circles her hips, pressing against the denim of my jeans. I think she’s about to kiss me, but instead she changes tack completely—something I’m coming to expect from her.
“You know, you should really focus on tracking down who’s coming for you. You’ve got a real defensive strategy—and I’m sure it’s the best defensive strategy there is. But it’s like you’re waiting around for an attack. You need to take the fight to the hacker.”
It’s difficult to concentrate when she’s grinding against my dick, but what she’s saying makes sense. It echoes my own fears, that we’re just biding our time until the other shoe drops.
“We’ve tried to. They’re covering their tracks well. As you’d expect.” I’m not sure how hard we’ve tried. Efa’s right—we’ve been focused on making sure they don’t get through. We’ve been building higher walls rather than trying to find who’s slamming into them with a virtual battering ram. I’ve been more about keeping a low profile than really trying to turn the tables and figure out who’s behind the attacks.
She sighs and drops a kiss at the corner of my mouth. “Let me try, will you? I want to see if I can figure out where the attacks are coming from.”
I chuckle. “You think you can outsmart the brightest brains in the business?”
She shrugs. “Maybe. Or maybe I’ll just offer a different perspective. See something new because I’m an outsider.”
Thankfully I don’t have to tell her no, because my phone pings behind Efa on the dining table. I grab it in case it’s important.
It’s just Leo.
“Fuck,” I say, and Efa stops pressing kisses against my jaw and pulls back.
“Leo,” I say. “He wants his new girlfriend to come to our Monday night thing.”
“Monday? I’ve forgotten what day it is.”
“It’s Friday. We leave tomorrow.”
“And Monday is No Girls Allowed?” she asks.
“It’s not that. It’s just, this girl came out of nowhere. Last I heard, he’d seen her a few nights running. Now he has a girlfriend? Leo never falls like this. I don’t know. There’s something off about it.”
“Sounds terrible,” Efa says, trailing a finger down my chest and finding the button of my jeans. “But maybe she’s just what Leo needs.” She takes my hand and places it under her skirt, between her legs. Our eyes lock as my fingers touch bare flesh.
She’s not wearing panties.
What am I worrying about Leo for? I have a hot, half-naked woman in my lap.
My fingers press into her folds, and she gasps like it’s the first time she’s ever felt me there. “I can’t get enough of you,” I say on a groan as she unzips my jeans and pulls out my cock.
I’m already hard.
Already ready for her.
I’m always ready.
For more.
“Tell Leo you’re going to bring me on Monday night,” she says breathlessly as I circle her clit with my thumb. “I can chat to the girlfriend while you get to have alone time with the boys. See if I pick up bad vibes.”
“Yes,” I grunt. I don’t know what I’m saying yes to. The way her hand grips my cock? Her inviting herself Monday night?
All of it.
All of her.