Page 16 of No Questions Asked

I followed Finn out into the hall. He closed the door behind me, leaning against the opposite wall, looking concerned. “This sounds a little crazy. What do you think?”

“What do I think? Ithinkit’s insane. Five days for me to assemble a cyber team, examine Vaccitex’s current security setup, plug any holes, and then pack and fly to the rainforest to review yet another security architecture I’m going to have to troubleshoot with spotty, if any, wifi? Technically, that’s passing insane and moving into lunacy territory. Plus, they’re asking me to take a trip to the rainforest. Me. The girl who hates to fly, loathes heat, humidity, bugs and spiders, can’t swim, and gets seasick just standing on a beach. Not to mention, I’m still not recovered from thelasttime we were in the jungle.”

Finn grimaced. I presumed he was remembering our adventure in the jungle. It hadn’t been a good one and we were lucky to have survived.

“I’ll tell them we can’t do it,” he said.

I blew out a breath, pinching the bridge of my nose with my fingers. “It’s not that simple, Finn. I wish it were, but it’s not. We can’t just say no. Look at what’s at stake. A vaccine that could save millions, maybe billions, of lives, most of them children.”

He pushed his fingers through his brown hair, his eyes clouding with concern. “I know. But if we can’t do it in five days, we have to say no. Not to mention, I’m not going to send you back into the jungle if you don’t want to do it.”

“I can do it in five days,” I said glumly. “That’s not the problem.I’mthe problem. I just have to suck it up and deal. Let’s examine the pros and cons.”

I started to pace the hallway. Was there any other way around this that didn’t involve me going to the rainforest? “First the pros. It’s at least a year’s commitment for our team in New York, which means a decent financial investment for X-Corp. Just so you know, I’m fine with setting up an X-Corp team in New York, but I’m not moving there.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to. But it’s not the New York jungle I’m worried about.”

“I know. The rainforest scares me...a lot. It’s not that I can’t go, I’m just not crazy about the idea. I know intellectually it would be different this time around. No plane crash—hopefully—and no bad guys with guns chasing me around. I’d just be sitting in the lab, keeping tabs on a small computer setup and chatting with scientists. It doesn’t seem so bad when I envision it like that.”

“Things are never that simple with you, Lexi, and you know it.”

“I know. But, dang it, Finn. I’m also intrigued. Rainforest humidity, giant spiders, and long plane rides aside, it’s an amazing opportunity. Plus, what an incredible challenge. How, in good conscience, could I turn this down?”

“You’re going to want to discuss it with Slash.”

“That goes without saying.” I looked down at my engagement ring, pressing my thumb against the band. “But I already know what he’ll think. If it means helping people, especially children, he won’t be against it. That’s just the way he is.”

“Think again. It won’t be that simple. He’ll put you before everything else, as he should.”

He was right again, but I also knew if I decided to do it, Slash would support me. We’d recently learned our lesson on that matter.

Finn leaned against the wall and pushed his fingers through his hair. “So, what’s next? Do you want to move forward on this? Offer a partial solution minus the rainforest? Or tell them we need twenty-four hours to discuss further.”

I appreciated that Finn had given me several opportunities to consider. He valued my input and expertise, and it meant a lot that he treated me as a valued employee, as well as a friend. “Let’s move forward. If after talking to Slash, I decide not to go to the rainforest, Ken can go in my place. He’ll do a good job. But I want to help as much as I can, and I know you do, too. You’ve got a softer heart than me. Plus, it’s a good thing for X-Corp all around—a win-win situation for the company in terms of money, jobs and public relations. Virtually overseeing a team in New York will be the easy part. Although it may be way out of my comfort zone, I can survive in the rainforest if I play it safe at the camp. The Brazilian government, the World Health Organization and other important charities are funding this effort, so other than snakes, bugs and potential cyberattacks, I don’t anticipate any real danger. Simple, right?”

Finn snorted. “Nothing isevereasy with you, but if you’re on board, let’s see what we can do. Are you sure about this?”

“How can we not be sure? I still want to clear it with Slash, but let’s do it. You okay with that?”

He patted me on the shoulder and the gesture reassured me. “I’m better than okay, lass. I’m lucky to have you on the team and as a friend.” He got a faraway look on his face, almost as if he were rehearsing what he was going to say to Lilith and Hayden. “All right then, Lexi. Let’s go back in and see what they think of our plan.”

Chapter Nine

Lexi

“I’ve been asked to go on assignment to the rainforest in Brazil.”

I winced as soon as the words came out my mouth. That hadn’t come out the way I’d planned. I’d wanted to ease Slash into the news, let it pop up naturally in conversation about our days. But unfortunately, I suck at conversation, even with my fiancé, which means things rarely go the way I plan. Besides, when I get nervous, I have a tendency to blurt things out. So, instead of letting Slash relax after his busy day of work and travel—not to mention, try the brand new shrimp and broccoli stir fry recipe I’d fixed—I blurted out the announcement before he’d even eaten a single bite.

He carefully lowered his fork, balancing it on the side of the plate. “Rainforest?”

Sighing, I picked up my wineglass and took a sip, looking at him in the flickering candlelight. “Yes. X-Corp caught a case today. ComQuest has been working with an NGO company named Vaccitex on the development of an anti-malaria vaccine. Vaccitex is in the final stages of clinical trials, but their data is in danger. Not surprisingly, they’re being virtually attacked by agents unknown who want to steal or corrupt their data. ComQuest suggested they get in touch with us to protect their critical information. The CEO says she wants me to be the one overseeing a team in their New York headquarters, but also travel with a team to Brazil to ensure the security of the field data.”

He seemed to mentally digest that before he spoke. “The last part, about wanting you in particular, doesn’t surprise me. Your reputation precedes you. But I have a lot of questions. If Vaccitex is an NGO, how are they funding their research?”

“They’ve received a grant from the WHO and are apparently being supported by various governments and charitable organizations around the world.”

“The name Vaccitex is familiar.” Slash reached for his wine, his brow furrowed slightly. “I’ve heard it before, but I’m not sure where. Tell me what else you know about the organization.”

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