Jesus, fuck, not that. My grandmother and brothers prided themselves on hiring only the best. If they had someone in their ranks doing this, it would be a disaster. Then again, I remembered my Gran’s concern that it could be someone close to us.
I nodded. “I’ll get on that.”
Phil sat back. “Do you have the feeling the other shoe is about to drop?”
“What do you mean?” I drank my tea wishing for coffee.
“Like we’re working against a timer and our time is about to run out?”
I inhaled a breath. “Actually, I do. We can’t wait for Chen or whoever to show their hand or fuck this up.”
“That’s how I feel too. What do we do about it?
“We start with those emails and I’ll contact the IT in San Diego about the possibility of the malware being sent there as the key to getting into the system.”
I went back to the IT office, contacting the main office, and started on the emails. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what Phil said about the other shoe dropping. Someone was breathing down our necks and could potentially do something to fuck up the business. Scanning email docs felt like too little too late.
I grabbed my coat and headed out. “I’m going to deal with some of this back at the hotel,” I said to Andi and Phil. “More privacy,” I explained.
“Do you need me to come with you?” Andi asked. The pervert in me wondered if she was suggesting doing something other than work, and I wanted to take her up on that. But not now. Now I need to find who was causing problems so I could protect my Gran’s company.
“If you could review these emails, that would be a help,” I said. It wasn’t a lie. No, the lie was something else.
“Okay. I’ll call if I find anything.”
I nodded and had the urge to go kiss her goodbye. I was able to resist. “I’ll see you back at the hotel later tonight.” If I was lucky, she’d move back into the suite. Into my room.
I left the building, calling for a car to take me across town to Chen’s office building. There was no way I was going to let Andi play spy with this guy. I couldn’t be sure he hadn’t been doing the same to her, pumping her for information.
Besides, if he was fucking with the family business and trying to fuck my woman, I wanted to put him straight myself.
I arrived at his building and went straight up to his office.
“Do you have an appointment?” the secretary asked.
“No. But I’m Noah Strong of Strong Incorporated.”
Her eyes flashed with recognition of my family’s business, but she didn’t necessarily act like I was important. “Let me see if he can see you. He’s very busy.”
I glared at her. He was likely busy ruining my Gran’ business. “I’m busy too and will be happy to take the family business elsewhere.”
She seemed unfazed by my comment. She called Chen's office, speaking in Chinese so I had no clue what they were saying. Her glance at me suggested they were saying something negative about me.
She hung up the phone. “He’ll be with you shortly.”
People in Hong Kong must have a different definition of “shortly” as it was an hour before Chen opened his door and with his fake smarmy smile welcomed me into his office.
“Noah, welcome to my office. Can I get you some tea? Or coffee?”
“No thank you,” I said. His office was large with a vast view of Hong Kong.
“I don’t see Andi. Such a shame. I do enjoy her company.”
Fucker. “This meeting is just between me and you, Chen.”
There was a flash of irritation in his eyes. “It sounds like you have something on your mind. I hope I can help.” He motioned for me to sit in a stark chair in front of his desk. Not wanting to appear too confrontive at that outset, I sat as he went behind his desk to his chair.
I wondered how one went about accusing a partner of hacking? I figured either I was right, and Chen would fess up to it or at least stop now that he knew we were on to him. Or I’d be wrong, and Chen would be furious. That could cause all sorts of problems starting with having to set up a new distribution partnership. Even then, I could end up alienating everyone in the network and no one would want to work with Strong Incorporated. If that happened, I’m sure Gran would be pleased to have me not join the business. I’d hate that she and my family would think I was a fuck up, but I was what I was.