Page 36 of Misdirection

“I for one am always hoping my iron supplements will make the alarms go off,” Sonny continued. “Then maybe I can stop taking those horse pills.”

Jason didn’t seem amused by their jokes. “I just need a moment of her time.”

“Why can’t you be nice like him?” Olive asked Jason as he continued to tug her away.

“I ask him that all the time,” Sonny quipped.

“This is me being nice.” Jason ignored their banter and pulled her away from any listening ears.

Sonny had been a breath of fresh air in an otherwise tense situation.

“I looked into your background,” Jason muttered.

Any of her jovial feelings disappeared faster than a professional thief snatching valuables.

Olive raised her chin. Her background should be solid. She had some of the best in the business working to ensure all her details lined up. “And?”

“It’s impressive.”

“I’d say thank you, but I don’t think you’re trying to pay me a compliment.”

He lowered his voice. “The timelines don’t add up for me, Ollie.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

“When I knew you, you were smart but not necessarily a good student. You’d rather be having fun. Then your family suddenly picked up and moved. Two years later, you’re accepted into one of the top universities in the world, and immediately after graduation you begin working in different high-powered positions in some of the country’s top companies? It doesn’t fit.”

Olive swallowed hard, trying not to show any hints of truth in her gaze. “People can change.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”

“The bottom of what?” She made sure to sound aloof.

“I’m sure you know what kind of company Conglomerate is. Their products are highly desired, not only by the government of this country but other countries as well. People stand to makemillions if they take our proprietary information and sell it to others.”

She tilted her head as she observed him. “Are you saying that’s what’s happening?”

“I’m saying it’s always a risk. I think your dad was slick, a smooth talker who knew how to get what he wanted.” He paused. “I hate to sound harsh, Ollie, but maybe you got that trait from him.”

She swallowed hard. Jason was entirely too close to the truth right now.

Olive raised her chin, careful to look undeterred. “I think you’re overthinking this.”

“It’s my job to make sure I keep things safe and aboveboard here at the company. It’s only fair to let you know that I’m keeping my eye on you.”

“Go for it.” There was more challenge in her voice than she actually felt. “Waste your time if you want.”

She was bluffing. Because, in truth, her prior relationship with Jason could cause a lot of trouble for her with this assignment.

He wasn’t the type to be deterred. In fact, he was one of the most persistent, determined people she knew.

Once when he’d wanted a scholarship in high school, he’d studied endlessly for weeks to pull up his math grade so he could have the GPA he needed. Another time, he wanted his family to adopt a dog. His mom had said only if he proved he was responsible. So he’d cooked dinner for his family for an entire month.

Yes, he was definitely going to be a problem.

Olive had to figure out what to do about that.

Olive made it back upstairs just in time for her meeting with Ryan Jones. But she was still shaken from her conversation with Jason. He was suspicious, and rightfully so.

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