Page 9 of Temporary Vows

“Is everything in order?” I direct my attention back to Levi.

“Yeah. I met with both PR and IT first thing and grounded them.”

“All of them?” I need to make sure every single motherfucker in those departments has been stripped of access. The good, the bad, and the neutral alike—those you’d never suspect.

He nods. “They can still do functional work on the system mainframe, but I’ve revoked all access and clearance to high-profile files and accounts, pending investigation.”

“Good.”

Since I cover all the ops for the company worldwide, I already work in the same capacity as chief operating officer. The part of me that’s reeling from the whole situation wants to fire the whole team and start fresh. But even I know that would be counterproductive. Not only does Vale Global need both departments to run, firing everyone would be a lawsuit waiting to happen. And another media scandal.

Vale Global’s Heartless Villain Fires Entire Team…

No thank you. I’m in enough deep shit as it is.

“What’s next, Dorian?” Knox cuts in. Everything in his tone screams how badly he wants to take the reins and sort this all out. “Who’s doing the investigation if the entire IT team is grounded?”

“I got it covered. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“I need to knowsomething.”

“All you need to know is that I’m handling it. And I need you to trust me.” I don’t want him involved. He’s been through enough with whoever this bastard is. Also… I don’t want him getting in the way of my plans. Knox still has a moral compass. I don’t.

Finally, Knox sighs and nods his agreement. “I need you to keep me updated. You may want to handle this, but I need to know what’s going on at an operational level.”

“Sure.” I cock my head toward the corridor. “I’ll catch up with you guys later.”

“Good luck.” Knox bites the inside of his lip and raises his brows, silently adding:you’re going to need it.

I turn and leave, feeling like a man walking toward his execution. I keep wondering where I went wrong and what I could have done to be more careful.

The answer is nothing.

When someone is out to get you, they eventually do. You fall right into their trap, and there’s nothing you can do about it except fight to break free.

I reach my father’s office at the end of the corridor. The door is ajar. A sign he’s waiting for me.

He used to do that when we were kids. When we got in trouble. Granted, most of that trouble was caused by our psychotic mother, who made our lives a living hell. We just couldn’t tell our father that at the time.

I knock on the door once then push it open.

Dad sits behind his desk looking like the regal emperor he is. He’s on the phone. It sounds like he’s talking to Louise, my stepmother, about Adeline, my sister.

He signals for me to take a seat. I walk in, lock the door, and pull up the chair in front of him.

Quickly, he bids Louise goodbye then hangs up. He was smiling while he spoke to her. Now he’s not.

“Good morning,” he grates out, steepling his fingers on the desk.

“Morning.” I maintain my composure. My last words to him yesterday were to go to hell. If he weren’t my father, I would have told him to fuck himself, but I still maintained some level of respect.

“I’m glad we can meet under less heated conditions.”

“Me too.” My tone is noticeably clipped.

“What’s the status with the leak investigation?”

“I’m working on it. I have a third-party team looking into it.” He’d undoubtedly have my head if he knew who I was working with, but in these types of situations, you have to workwith those you trust. “I’ll update you as soon as I have more information.”