Page 43 of Vacation Friends

“There’s scuttlebutt in the tech world that Blue is developing something new also and that it’s similar to the new product we’re about to announce. Our plans for this new technology are top secret. The only people who know the details are top level executives.” He ran a hand over his face. “I’ve had a bad feeling in my gut for a while about this.”

“Are you sure it’s not just fear talking?” She shifted on the crinkly paper covering the examination table.

A flash of irritation flitted through his gaze. “Six months ago, I found out someone we’d hired was using a false name. That they worked for Blue. That they were trying to work their way into the good graces of one of our VPs to find out information.”

“What?” Why hadn’t Maddie heard about this? If there was one thing Josh loved talking about, it was work.

“We kept the incident under wraps,” Josh explained. “Obviously, we fired the mole. Even though we pressed charges, we’ve been able to keep what happened quiet. We don’t want people to lose confidence in our company and decided to keep the matter quiet instead.”

She supposed that made sense. “So you think Blue still might be trying to get their hands on the details of this product so they can create their own version? And you think this new corporate spy could be someone who’s here as a spouse or plus one?”

“We vet everyone we hire so I can’t see it being someone on the inside. But just in case, I’m having one of my guys dig deeper into the couples on the retreat. I want to know how long they’ve been together, what their past jobs are, if they have a criminal record.”

Maddie’s eyebrows flew up. “You’re really taking this seriously, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course.” His expression hardened as his mind seemed to shift to work problems.

Brody’s image filled her mind. He was someone’s date. So was Bree. Could someone like Brody or Bree be a corporate spy?

Maddie just couldn’t see either of them being guilty. They seemed like salt of the earth people, not the viciously driven types.

“I also have people tracking Derek.”

Josh’s statement jerked Maddie from her thoughts. “Derek, the man who’d been fired? Why are you having him followed?”

His gaze continued to darken. “I need to make sure he doesn’t follow us here to start trouble. Right now, he’s still in New York, so we should be good. But I can’t take any chances.”

Maddie tried to control her reaction, to not appear dumbfounded at his paranoia—and that was exactly what she felt like: dumbfounded. Derek would have to be really angry and unhinged to come here to Kauai and exact revenge.

Josh’s theories sounded outlandish, but maybe they weren’t. She knew the stakes were high.

“I had no idea you were this worried about this new proprietary technology,” she finally said.

Josh locked his gaze on hers. “There are people who would kill to get their hands on it. We stand to make billions if the launch is as successful as we believe it will be.”

His words stretched through the air until a chill shimmied through her.

The tech world really was a cutthroat business, wasn’t it?

But was it cutthroat enough that someone was willing to turn innocent people into casualties?

Maddie knew the answer to that question was a resounding yes.

Maddie arrived back at the resort, unable to shake her embarrassment. Word of what happened had probably already spread throughout everyone attending the event.

Truly, she shouldn’t have come to Kauai. She should have pulled the Band-Aid off and broken up with Josh before the event—and not let him persuade her otherwise.

She’d been trying to do the right thing, but the lines felt murky. Though she wanted to spare Josh any heartache, maybe delaying the inevitable was only making things worse.

She paused in the lobby and glanced in the mirror. Her eyes widened at her reflection.

Red dirt coated her hair and skin. Her pink shirt now looked orange. A bandage covered her right bicep, and numerous scrapes could still be seen.

Why hadn’t Josh told her how horrible she looked?

“You’re back!” a female voice called.

Maddie turned to see Bree and Fowler walking toward her holding slushy tropical drinks with pineapple wedged on the rims. They’d both cleaned themselves up since the UTV ride and looked presentable.

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