Page 20 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

“Where did this come from?” I ask, my tone icy.

Adrian doesn’t hesitate. “Eva Stone. She met with Heller two nights ago. We’ve confirmed it.”

A curse slips from my lips as I stand abruptly, the legs of my chair scraping against the floor. “You’re telling me the hacker’s trail leads back to one of my former employees, and Eva Stone just happened to meet with him?”

“It’s more than coincidence, sir,” Adrian replies evenly. “Heller was flagged in connection to sabotage during his time with Kane Enterprises. He had access to sensitive projects, and when he left, there were rumors he took proprietary data with him.”

“And we didn’t pursue it?” My anger simmers, barely contained.

“We didn’t have proof,” Adrian says carefully. “But now, with the leaks and the hacker’s trail—Heller is our most viable suspect.”

I pace the room, my thoughts racing. Heller is a liability, and if Eva’s been talking to him, that makes her a liability too. But she’s not the type to work with someone like Heller. She’s chasing a story, and he’s just another source in her pursuit of the truth.

Unless there’s something she’s not telling me.

I stop pacing, turning to Adrian. “Where is Heller now?”

“Off the grid,” he replies. “We’ve got a team tracking him, but he’s been careful. As for Eva…” He trails off, waiting for me to fill in the blanks.

“I’ll handle Eva,” I say firmly. “Keep me updated on Heller. I want to know the moment you find him.”

Adrian nods, taking the tablet and leaving without another word. The door closes behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The drive to Eva’s apartment is quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound. My thoughts churn as I navigate the city streets, each turn bringing me closer to her. Part of me wonders if this is a mistake, if involving her any further will only complicate things.

But the other part—the part that built Kane Enterprises from the ground up—knows this is necessary.

When I reach her building, I park a block away, my eyes scanning the street. It’s quiet, unassuming, just like her. I climb the stairs to her floor, the faint sound of my footsteps swallowed by the creaky wood beneath me. Her door is slightly ajar again, the chain dangling limply.

My pulse quickens, a cold knot forming in my stomach.

“Eva?” I call, my voice low but firm.

There’s no response, but the sound of rustling papers carries through the apartment. I step inside, my eyes sweeping the room.

She’s at the dining table, surrounded by notebooks and loose sheets of paper, her laptop open but dark.

She looks up, startled, her green eyes narrowing as she recognizes me. “Dominic,” she says sharply. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I reply, stepping closer. “What are you doing with Heller?”

Her face hardens, and I see the spark of defiance in her expression. “I’m doing my job. What are you doing? Spying on me?”

“You’re making it easy,” I say coldly. “Meeting with a known suspect in a corporate sabotage case isn’t exactly subtle, Eva.”

Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t back down. “Heller was a source. That’s all.”

“And what did he tell you?” I ask, my tone sharp. “Because whatever it was, it’s gotten you involved in something far more dangerous than a story.”

Her shoulders square, and she leans forward, her hands flat on the table. “Why do you care, Dominic? Is it because you think I’m a threat to your company, or is it something else? Something you’re not telling me?”

The question hangs in the air, and for a moment, I don’t respond. She’s not wrong—I do see her as a threat. But it’s more than that.

“You’re out of your depth,” I say finally, my voice softer but no less firm. “And if you don’t stop, you’re going to get hurt.”

She laughs, the sound bitter. “Is that a warning? Or a threat?”

“It’s the truth,” I reply, my gaze locking onto hers. “You think you’re chasing a story, but you’re caught in the middle of a war you don’t understand.”

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