“When this is all over, you’ll be the grieving widow and I will be the one to swoop in and save you.” He laughed. “Now, I have to make some calls. Go do what you have to.”
***
It was almost time to leave for the day. Phoebe glanced at the door, praying Diane didn’t show up. So close, just a few more minutes…then the door slammed open and she sighed, slouching in her chair as she continued to type.
“Ah, Ms. Baron, still hard at work as always,” she said cheerfully as she click-clacked into the room.
“Not off ‘til five, last time I checked,” Phoebe said quietly, not bothering to look up.
“Of course, of course. Listen, I just wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings.”
Phoebe saved the document she was working on and started to shut down her workstation. “About what exactly? You threatening me?”
“You have to understand, I thought what you had with Riley was serious.” She laughed as she waved her hand, as if waving away what Phoebe had shared with Riley. Phoebe stiffened, feeling her heart twist, but didn’t say anything. “All water under the bridge, yes?”
She pushed her chair back and grabbed her purse and jacket. “Yep, he’s all yours. I’m sure you two will be a perfect fit for each other.” She headed for the door, keeping her eyes averted so her pain wouldn’t show when shiny red heels appeared in front of her. “Move, please. I would like to get home sometime today.”
Diane tapped her toe until Phoebe rolled her eyes and finally met the other woman’s gaze.
“You could never have been with him. He is way out of your league, you understand me? He never would’ve stayed with you. Besides, he’s already with me. We spent the weekend together.”
Phoebe’s hand gripped her purse hard enough to hurt.
“Yes, it was a wonderful weekend. He told me all about you, his little virgin girl. Ah, it was a great laugh.”
Cheeks burning, Phoebe shoved past Diane, but the woman blocked her path again. She opened her mouth to yell when something caught her eye. Diane had walked in with her purse and a bag, a laptop bag. Sticking out of it was a sleek black machine. Phoebe recognized it as a top model, expensive, and only for those who had real computer skills. So why the hell did Diane Chandler have it? Hadn’t Riley said something about a laptop?
“What are you staring at?” Diane snapped.
Phoebe glanced away from the bag and narrowed her eyes. “Nothing. Now get out of my way or my real boyfriend will come in here and deal with you.”
“Oh? And who is that?”
“Mitch Harper.” Phoebe’s lips curled into a smile when she saw the slight shadow of fear appear in Diane’s eyes. So Mitch was a big deal in this world. Phoebe had a feeling it had nothing to do with the job he said he did. “I’m leaving. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Diane didn’t say another word, and Phoebe wondered who the hell she was dating now.
Chapter 22
A couple weeks passed, and Riley felt the wedding deadline looming ever nearer. He was no closer to figuring out what to do than he was to stopping Yancey from getting his hands on more files. So far, he’d lost two clients and was close to losing the military contract if they didn’t figure out who was behind the file hacking soon. He spun slowly around in his chair, mind reeling as he tried to think of who could possibly be behind it, even as a voice nagged him loudly that maybe Phoebe Baron had nothing to do with any of this.
It had all been someone else. But who?
It had to be someone close to him, who knew him. There was no way it was Ben. Never in a million years would he see his friend turn on him. But who else was there?
His eyes landed on the stack of papers on his desk, files that needed sorting, calls that needed to be made. But as he reached for his cell, the first name that came up was Anna. Well, Phoebe’s number really, but he’d never taken her out of his contacts. His thumb hovered over the delete button. He should just get rid of it. No point trying to talk to her again. No matter what, she had lied to him, and as far as he knew, was connected to all of this somehow. Was involved with Mitch Harper.
The rumors had spread from the CEO circle and the local gatherings that Mitch Harper was dating someone. A beautiful woman with green eyes. Riley knew exactly who it was and still couldn’t believe it. He glanced at the door to make sure he was still alone, then changed Annie’s name to Phoebe before tucking his cell away and pressing the intercom button.