“I can’t believe he would do such a thing! He is insatiable, and he drives me crazy! In a good way, of course.” I grinned, expecting Lauren to make some joke about it or something like that.
For some reason, her face became more somber, and I noticed there was something bothering her.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “To tell you the truth, I’m shocked. I mean, I’m happy that you are happy, but at the same time I’m not convinced he’s okay.”
“Why not, Lauren? You don’t even know him.”
“I don’t know. Somehow, CEOs and people like them are more shady than not. Remember that I warned you about your company? Well, what if he’s one of those dangerous sharks who would do anything to get what they want?”
I twisted my hands anxiously, bothered that she felt this way about Grant without even knowing him. “Grant is okay, Lauren. He is not like that. He is honest, hard-working, and skilled businessman. He is not one of those people who would walk over others for the sake of his millions.” At least I didn’t think he was.
“I’m sorry. I get it. He sounds okay. On the other hand, if he is okay and you are in the inner circle then you are safe.”
I flinched, looking at her in surprise. “What does that mean?”
She took a sip of her wine and then she put her glass on the table. “Look, I wasn’t really sure if I should
tell you this or not, because I didn’t want to freak you out.”
My hairs stood on my neck, and I felt afraid to hear what she was about to say next. “What?”
“I know that someone was killed on their job site last year.”
“What?”
“Yes. They were killed, and the details are unknown because the company covered it up. I heard it once from my boss. He knows some people in LQT, so the news reached him despite their secrecy.”
“Oh my God.” I paled, my whole body trembling in new fear. I put my glass next to hers, all of a sudden feeling nauseous. “Killed?”
She nodded. “Yes. I just know that he was a supervisor on the site.”
“Oh my God,” I repeated, completely shocked and terrified.
This changed everything. This was serious. There was a murder and the company swept it under the rug? I couldn’t believe this.
“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. You were so happy when you got your new job, and I just didn’t want to spoil anything for you. I thought that you wouldn’t be involved in any kind of those shady things, but now you told me someone was following you, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”
“I get it, but why would they target me? I didn’t do anything!” I couldn’t prevent my panic from showing in my voice, trembling stronger.
She took my hand into hers and squeezed it gently. “I don’t know, sunshine, but I just want you safe. Maybe you could take a few days off?”
I considered not going back to work, agreeing with Lauren that I should take some time off, but the big meeting was only a day away. We worked so hard for it, and Grant needed me. I couldn’t ruin it by not showing up. And maybe he had nothing to do with it. Maybe I was right all along.
“Ugh!” I growled. The back of my head had started pounding, and I doubted I would be able to sleep this night.
No, there was no way for me to focus on our project tomorrow—not after what I just heard. Besides, there was a real threat out there, and I knew they were after me. It was all the more reason for me not to go back to work tomorrow.
“You’re right,” I told her. “I shouldn’t work tomorrow. I need some time to think.”
“Alright. Now, you can sleep in the guest room. I’ll make up the bed and there’s towels in the closet. You know, if you want, you can stay here tomorrow all day.”
“Thank you, grumpy. This means a lot to me.”
“Don’t mention it.” She hugged me tightly. “Look, I really hope I’m wrong about your boss. I mean, maybe he wasn’t involved in it. I don’t know, but there is definitely something fishy about the company, so I would reconsider working there if I was you.”
“I will think about it.”