Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I’ve put several of my employee satisfaction initiatives in place, filled multiple job openings, and found a woman with thick skin for the newly-created position of office manager.
The holiday season arrives, and at my urging, the CEOs give out bigger bonuses than they have in past years, much to everyone’s delight. Even though I’m not a permanent employee, they give me a generous bonus, too, and I’m excited to be able to buy extravagant gifts for my family and friends.
People in the office are generally in better moods throughout the month of December, and the season culminates with a little office party and a Secret Santa exchange on December 23rd, organized by the new office manager.
I received two more anonymous gifts of dolphin figurines over the past few weeks, and I’m wondering if the gift giver will reveal themselves on the day of the party, but it doesn’t happen. In fact, I don’t receive a dolphin that day at all, just my Secret Santa gift of a handmade scarf and hat from Jackie, who sweetly explained that she traded with Imani so she could have my name.
I’m hopeful that whoever was sending the anonymous gifts got the message that I’m not interested.
In addition to the lovely financial bonus, Derek and Jansen also offer me the week off between Christmas and New Year’s, and I happily accept. I use the vacation to spend time with my family, and to rest.
Marissa and I ask Stella if we can drive up to visit her and Jessie, but Stella says that it isn’t a good time. Reading between the lines, we get the idea that things are getting bad with her family situation, but there doesn’t seem to be much we can do about it.
Despite my concerns about Stella and her daughter, I enjoy my time off, though I do miss Derek and Jansen a little, especially in the evenings.
It’s not really them I miss, though—it’s just the hot sex.
CHAPTER 31
DEREK
After just one day off, on a holiday, my inbox is unreasonably full. There are a lot of junk messages and too many worthless “Happy New Year” greetings from vendors and other random companies.
It’s time for an “unsubscribe” spree, and I’m in the midst of that when my blood goes from ice cold to boiling in the time it takes to read a few lines.
Jansen’s copied on this one, and I wonder if he’s seen it yet. I get my answer when he barrels in through my open door, his laptop in hand. Reading my face, he asks, “You’ve seen it?” and I nod once. “I thought we were done with this bullshit.”
I scan over the message again. “It’s different from the others. It’s similar in its subject matter, but much more specific.”
“All of it lies,” he interjects.
“But specific in those lies, and in its threats.”
“They can’t threaten us with lies. They can’t expose us for things that aren’t even true.”
I give Jansen a hard look, trying to figure out if he believes that, or if he’s just being stubborn in his anger. “The thing is, they can tell the public that we don’t source our beans ethically, that we have an inferior quality product, and we don’t give away as much of our profits as we claim. Even though none of that is true, people can still believe it.”
My partner glowers at me, as if this is my fault. “So what are we supposed to do—give in to their demands?”
“They don’t even say what those demands are, but no, I’m not suggesting that. We need to do something, though, because public perception is reality, at least as far as our business is concerned, and this asshole doesn’t seem to be going away.”
Jansen pulls out his phone. “I’m going to call Charles in.”
While we wait, my mind pings directly back to what I’d been thinking about while I was clearing my inbox. “Ana’s due back today.”
Jansen pauses the pacing he’d been doing and nods.
“It felt like a long week, didn’t it?”
He nods again.
Charles knocks on my door, then enters, a mug of coffee in hand. “Morning. What’s up?”
“We need your help,” Jansen says. “Can you track an email?”
Our longtime IT man’s brows lift. “What’s going on?”
Jansen shows him the email, and we explain that it’s one of a handful we’ve received over the past several weeks, each of them coming from a different address.
“Is there a way to find out who’s sending them?” I ask. “I’m sure they’re from the same person.”
“I can get the IP address, which can indicate a location, but none of that is helpful if the sender is using a VPN or an encrypted email service.”
Jansen lets out a frustrated huff at this news.
“We’ll forward all of the messages,” I tell Charles. “Do what you can.”
CHAPTER 32
ANA
On my first day back after the holiday break, another little white box greets me when I get to work. This time, it’s been placed on my chair, but of course, there’s no note. This dolphin, the fourth I’ve received, is painted a beautiful vivid blue and accented with colorful seashells at its base.