Blake looked at David, who shrugged. “Nothing,” he said. “We had the team work through any possible breach of the network from here or from Russia. There’s no evidence the system was ever hacked. I don’t know what to say, Blake, but every shred of evidence points to the posts coming from your own machines.”
“Because they did,” Blake said.
“What?” David frowned.
“Blake?” said Michelle, standing up. “You’re admitting it? You did write those posts.”
“No.” He kept his tone as calm as he was able. “They came from my machines, but I didn’t write them.”
“What are you saying?” David asked. “Somebody else used your phone? Your computer?”
“Exactly,” said Blake, not taking his eyes off Michelle. “Somebody who knew the passwords. Someone who barely left my side.”
“Be very careful what you say next,” said Michelle, her expression carved from ice. She pointed a long, thin finger at him. “You are in dangerous territory.”
Blake took a step closer. “I know it was you, Michelle. I have proof. I saw Nate, and he showed me the metadata. I couldn’t have written some of those posts, and you know it.”
“The words of a desperate man,” Michelle said.
“Desperate men are dangerous,” Blake replied. “The post on the fourth of January, this year. I was in hospital with Nate while his mum was in surgery. No phone, no laptop. I couldn’t have made that post. David, you remember that?”
David nodded, his expression brightening. “Sure, you left your phone here. I was trying to call it all morning, and when I came to your office I found it on your desk. You weren’t back until the next day. You think . . . ?” David looked at Michelle as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“I don’t think,” said Blake. “I know. Michelle knew all of my passwords — she regularly accessed my accounts for work. She planted the posts there, then activated them yesterday morning. Nate will back me up, and we can convince the board.”
Michelle stared at him, then her mouth curved up into a cruel smile. “You think that will convince them? You think that even matters? The world has spoken — you’re as guilty as they come.”
“Did you do this?” David asked, his eyes blazing.
Michelle didn’t reply, but everything in her expression told Blake the truth.
“Why?” Blake asked.
“Why do people do anything?” she said. “Money, power, love. You thought I loved you? You were wrong. It wasn’t you I loved. It was this.” She waved her hands around, indicating the plush office.
“You did all this to get your hands on Heartbook?” Blake spat. “It’s my life, Michelle. My whole life.”
Michelle turned to the window, staring out at the flawless blue sky. “It’s too late to change it, Blake. It’s business, and I win.”
How could she do this to him? She had to be a genuine sociopath to have planned his downfall with such precision. The sudden rush of anger made his vision blur, but David’s voice cut through the haze.
“This ends now,” he said, stepping between them. “We’re calling Agnes and Maurice. Today. Right now.”
He pulled out his phone and shot Blake a determined look. “We’re not letting her get away with this.” His hand gripped Blake’s shoulder like a lifeline. His voice was resolute, each word a promise. “It’s going to be okay, Blake. We’re going to fix this.”
Blake’s breath hitched, the weight on his chest easing slightly. For the first time in what felt like for ever, he allowed himself to believe it.
“Let’s do this,” he said, his voice steady, filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
Chapter 22
ELLIE
“Come on, it will do you good. Fresh air, sunshine, clear your lungs of that city smoke.”
Ellie stretched one leg out of the water, letting it cool. The bathroom was thick with steam, the water so hot it was almost uncomfortable. It felt good, though, hot enough to ease some of her aches and pains, and to sweat the disappointment of the day out of her. The only alcohol in the flat had been an ancient bottle of prosecco in the fridge, and she’d just poured herself a second glass. The feeling of gently melting into the water was a pleasant one. At least it had been, until her mum called.
“I’m really busy,” she said, tilting her head back and almost dropping the phone into the water.