Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
ELIJAH
“ A manda,” I say, approaching Gabriel’s PA.
She looks up and smiles. “Elijah, how lovely to see you!”
“Is Gabe free?”
I glance over at my brother’s closed door, the ride over having strained me to my limit.
I turn back. A frown has appeared between her brows.
“Is he expecting you?” she asks.
My brother’s calendar has appeared on her screen. Super efficient, as always.
“No,” I tell her, running a hand through my hair as I try hard not to snap at her. “I was passing and wondered if he was free.”
Her shoulders relax, and her smile widens.
“Not a problem. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Don’t bother him if he’s busy,” I say, staring at his closed door, questioning why the hell I’m here in the first place.
Gabriel has an open-door policy. He told me that he likes to see what his team is doing and vice versa. The fact I’ve turned up and his door is closed. Is that the universe trying to tell me something?
“He’s never too busy for family,” Amanda says.
She picks up her phone and presses a few buttons.
“Gabriel, Elijah is here to see you,” she says.
I can’t hear his reply, but Amanda smiles before putting down the phone.
“Go straight in,” she says before adding. “Can I get you something to drink?”
My brother’s office serves the best coffee in the city. With my frayed nerves, I’m not sure coffee is the best option, but what the hell. This day can’t get any worse.
“I’ll have a coffee, please,” I say with a forced smile.
“Usual?” she asks before motioning for me to go in.
I nod, making my way to Gabriel’s door.
I open the door and step inside.
My youngest brother looks up from his desk and waves me in, his phone pressed to his ear.
“Give him a big kiss from me,” he says. “I love you too. See you later.”
A smile tilts his lips at whatever is being said on the other end of the phone.
“Yeah, I will. Bye.”
He replaces the handset and sits back.
“This is a surprise,” he says, motioning to the chair in front of him. “Leah says hi and sends her love.”
“Same back, and to that gorgeous little nephew of mine,” I say, dropping into the seat opposite and letting out a deep breath.
Gabriel scowls, inclining his head.
“Leah wants you and Lottie to come around for dinner. She has apparently promised Lottie more Callum time.”
“As soon as she’s back from Italy,” I say.
“I’ll hold you to that, but I’m also waiting for you to turn up at boys’ night. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”
I go to stand, making Gabriel sit forward and rest his hands on the desk.
“Okay. Not a social call. What’s wrong?”
I get up and begin pacing.
I pause and pinch the bridge of my nose before setting off again.
“Okay. You’re going to wear a path into my carpet, want to tell me what’s got you so riled up?” Gabriel asks.
I turn, folding my arms over my chest. I tilt my head back and stare at the ceiling, my brain whirling as I try to work out what I’m doing here and what I want to say.
Gabriel gets up and moves around his desk, perching on the edge.
“Take a deep breath.”
I stare my brother in the eye.
“I think someone is trying to destroy my company. Or me, or both.”
Gabriel tilts his head and crosses his arms over his chest.
“I think you need to sit down and start at the beginning.”
I update Gabriel on my findings. The compromised login, hundreds, maybe thousands of code changes I haven’t made but are logged against my name. The deleted code change emails.
“And you’re sure it’s not innocent?”
I shake my head. My heart rate finally slows as I unburden my findings.
“The changes don’t make any sense. A lot of them seem pointless like they’re hiding something else. Others are definitely calling other pieces of code. I just don’t know what they’re doing. They are hidden amongst the rest.”
“Have you notified the board? Spoken to Todd?”
I run a hand down my face.
“I’ll take that as a no. Elijah, you need to let the board know. Protect yourself.”
“With what?” I snap. “The fact the CEO’s login has been compromised? That our cyber security company is about to become a laughingstock of the world as it becomes known as the cyber company that got infiltrated . If this gets out, it will destroy us. Mine and the company’s reputation will be worth nothing. The more people who know, the more vulnerable we are. I need to try to get to the bottom of this before I bring anyone else in.”
“And Todd?”
I sigh and drop my elbows to my knees, my eyes on the floor.
“I don’t know.”
“Elijah, something like this, you can’t keep it from the board for long. It will look like you’re trying to cover something up.”
“Someone is trying to set me up, Gabe. I need to know who and why.”
“Can’t you pull the release, make up an excuse?”
“Not without one hell of a good reason! This is the company’s reputation at stake. We have never had to delay or pull a release.”
“I hate to point out the obvious, but if you don’t, you’ll be finished anyway if this gets out.”
“Thanks for stating the fucking obvious. However, if I pull the release, I’ll tip my hand. I may never get to the bottom of this. What if the damage is already out there, and they’re just waiting? I know some of these changes are live. I can see from the dates. I need to know what they do.”
“Have you called Pen?”
My eyes clash with Gabriel’s.
“Why the hell would I call Pen?”
My muscles tighten, and my heartbeat echoes in my ears.
“I don’t know? Maybe because she’s the best coder we know. Was going to be your business partner, until she wasn’t.”
“Are you kidding me?” I stare at Gabriel open-mouthed. “Have you forgotten she’s engaged to my biggest competitor—Kristophe Lansdown would love this.”
“All I’m saying is, if you aren’t going to let anyone in the company know what’s going on, then you need help from somewhere. All I’m saying is Pen?—”
“Don’t,” I say, holding up a hand. “I’m not calling Pen.”
Gabriel opens his mouth but shuts it again, clearly weighing up his next words.
“Don’t be an idiot, Eli. It’s not just your reputation at stake,” he says calmly in a typical Gabriel manner. “If you’re correct and espionage is afoot, then the whole Frazer brand could be damaged. The fallout will affect us all. Are you willing to take that gamble?”
I rub my chest, the pressure causing heartburn, my face burning under his scrutiny.
“I don’t know why I bothered coming here,” I say defensively. “I should be in the office trying to work out what this bastard has done,” I say.
“But you aren’t. You’re here because you know I’m talking sense.”
I stand up and move away from the chair.
“Twelve hours,” Gabriel says. “Then I’m contacting Pen.”
I stare at my brother and realise he’s serious.
“You’ll be ruining me,” I say quietly.
“No, I’ll probably be saving your stubborn ass,” he says.
My throat tightens, as I move to the door, spots appearing in front of my eyes. I want to forbid him, but I can’t seem to form the words.
I pull open the door and come face-to-face Amanda who has two coffees in her hand.
I move past her.
“I’ve got to go,” I say, making my way towards the elevator.
Fuck!