The little dots pop up. I grin, watching him try to decide what response to type. I break the silence myself.
Me: Don’t order it.
I end up chewing my thumbnail down to the quick while I nervously watch his dots blinking before he replies.
Ant: It would look really good on you, though.
Me: Yes. It would.
Ant: But, what will you wear if I don’t?
I snicker to my empty bedroom.
Me: I guess I’ll be wearing nothing at all?
The dots appear instantly. This time, I don’t wait for him to decide how to reply.
Me: Good night! I’m heading to bed.
I put my phone on silent and bury it in my nightstand drawer before I even see if he writes back.
Everything seems really great,sweet, easy, simple. We haven’t done anything but flirt since the evening we had phone sex. Until one Monday I’m called into Loch’s office for a meeting. It’s not uncommon for us to discuss the company prospects, so I’m not suspicious until I arrive at his office. The curtains are drawn and the lights are turned down low.
It’s not the way that Loch usually operates. I bite the inside of my cheek when I spot Ant standing in the corner. We have reached a quiet complacency at work, no public displays of affection. But, I don’t know how much the other two board members in the room know about our relationship. Sacha and Loch are wearing the same serious expression.
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Hamilton. I hope you don’t mind the lights. Pontius has a hard time with?—”
“I know.” I swallow hard. Has he told his friends that we’ve been getting closer? That we had phone sex, and flirt regularly? “It gives him headaches.”
Loch glances at Ant but speaks to me. “Would you like to take a seat, Ms. Hamilton?”
“I don’t want you to worry about anything we ask you today,” Sacha says.
I settle into the chair. If they start discussing our relationship, I’m going to squash Ant like a bug. “Why would I worry?”
“We’ve already spoken with our lawyers,” he continues. “Please know, we’ll believe whatever you say on this matter.”
“What does that mean?” I purposely do not look at Ant. I might actually kill him.
“Cryptech received a letter this morning pertaining to your company,” Loch says.
“A letter?” This throws me for a loop. “About what?”
“It accused you of using stolen code.”
I laugh very loudly, but the other faces in the room stay serious. My chuckling slows to a stop.
“Who would even say something like that?” I demand.
“Colin Thompson.” Loch taps a folder spread open on his desk.
I’m on my feet, reaching for the paper before Loch’s finished saying the name. “What did that motherfucker do? I swear to god. I’ll kill him.” I stop myself, resting both palms against the cool glass surface. “I’m sorry. That was hyperbole, obviously. I don’t wish him any harm. If that matters. Legally, I mean.” A nervous laugh bubbles up. I feel like I might actually be sick to my stomach.
Sacha gives half of a grin. “It’s okay. Believe me, we understand your frustration, Ms. Hamilton.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I ignore it.
“Do you know Colin?” Loch asks.
