Page 22 of Love Under the Microscope
“No one should have this address.” Except for less than a handful of people who I’ve invited over.
“As for why I’m here…” He stares at me as if trying to jog his memory.
I’m losing patience and sleep. “I’m waiting.”
He gives his head another shake. “It’s about your plan to have me work at UnoPharm.”
The words rush out. I hope this means his visit will be quick. Still, I tuck my legs under me to get more comfortable, grabbing a throw cushion and holding it in front of me like a shield. I have to do something since my nipples don’t want to go down, and my heart rate is picking up. “You changed your mind about working there.”
“No. Me getting a job there won’t work.”
“Yes, it will.”
“I’m telling you, it won’t.”
Ugh. Despite what he says, I know my plan will work, but I need to know Jack’s thoughts to understand him better. I’m used to asking for things Nate or Mr. Z want accomplished, and no one dares to say no. They do what’s asked without hesitating or asking questions. I don’t like that this journalist isn’t doing what he should, but calling him a dumbass won’t endear me to him, so I need to be polite. At least until I find out if the source is Nigel and shut him down. I hope that doesn’t take too long. “Why won’t it work, Jack?”
“I’m not an undercover reporter,” he says without missing a beat. “I’m good at what I do, but I’m best when I’m out there researching topics, talking to people, not pretending to be something I’m not, using a pseudonym aside. Plus, if the source works at UnoPharm as you believe, chances are they know who I am since everyone at PharmaNews knows I’m Jack Parker.”
Shit. I hadn’t thought about that since he publishes under various pseudonyms. That does throw a wrench into my plans.
I drop my head against the sofa and stare at the ceiling. “Ah, dammit.”
“You agree?”
I don’t want to, but he makes a good point. If Nigel is the source, he might know who the real PharmaNews reporters are. Maybe even who writes as whom. The guy’s an ass, there’s no denying that, but he’s thorough. That’s about his only redeeming quality, although I grudgingly admit the sex was out-of-this-world orgasmic at the beginning.
“Unfortunately, I do,” I admit, straightening. I hate being wrong about my plan. I should be right. I’m usually right. What’s going on? I’m too bright to make a mistake like this, which tells me how flustered I am by the thought of Nigel being the one behind all of this. I swallow. “What do you suggest?”
Jack grimaces. “I don’t know.”
“You come here in the early morning hours with zero plans?” I shake my head in disbelief. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Sorry. I guess it’s a bit stupid, right?”
I roll my eyes. “Not a bit. A lot. I could be in bed.”
When my gaze meets Jack’s, I see a twinkle in his eye and wonder if it’s the mention of my bed. Maybe my nipples aren’t just tired of being neglected. Maybe they’ve figured something out before my brain has. Man, I hope fatigue is messing with my head.
Jack clears his throat. “We can come up with a plan together, but you’ll need to give me more.”
My heart thuds. I swallow around the dryness in my throat. “More what?”
“Information.” He leans forward. “Mr. Z thinks he knows who the magazine’s source is.”
I nod.
“Well, I need to know why he thinks that and who it is,” Jack says matter-of-factly. “Having as many details as possible will help us come up with a more reasonable plan than me going undercover.”
He’s probably right. I yawn, my long day catching up to me. “There’s the possibility this is a personal vendetta.”
His eyes gleam with interest. Such a journalist. “I’m listening.”
“The CEO at UnoPharm is Nigel Carrington. He’s an ex-boyfriend of mine.”
Jack flinches. “How does he play into this, or you, for that matter?”
“Mr. Z…well, all of us think Nigel is most likely the source.”
