The elevator door dings open, and Matteo steps out.
I rest my hand on the desk, burying the thumb drive under my palm. Maybe he won’t notice.
“Morning, Olivia,” he says. He rarely speaks to me, but today he’s decided to be friendly. Wonderful. Is it because of the apartment?
“Morning,” I say, forcing a smile.
His brow knits as he studies me in passing. He doesn’t approach me, and I’m relieved that he doesn’t try to continue the awkward conversation between us. We’re not friends. I’ve barely spoken with the man, ever.
He seems close with Jace, though, and maybe I should get to know him. Then again, if there’s any chance that he works with Luka, maybe staying far from him is best.
Once he rounds the corner and is out of sight, I examine the flash drive. It looks ordinary. Without plugging it into a USB slot, there’s no way to know if it’s empty or there’s something on it.
I won’t risk plugging it in and installing a virus. I’m not an idiot.
There’s no other note. No directions. His threat is real, at least in regard to Jace, but I don’t have my phone on me. Is he expecting me to run back to the house, grab it, turn it on, and for me to do whatever he wants?
I shove the flash drive into the desk drawer. I’ll deal with Caruso tonight when I get home.
* * *
Jace heads for the elevator, stopping by my desk on the way to lunch. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to come out?”
There’s a warm, friendly smile on his face. It’s tempting, but I can’t accept his offer.
“Thanks, but I’ll just grab something quick.”
Matteo hurries to catch up with him. “Lunch?” Matteo asks, nodding at Jace.
“Sure.”
It looks like he found someone to join him.
My stomach grumbles, and I want to grab lunch, but I wait until he’s long gone. I grab my purse and head down the elevator and then outside. I pull my jacket tighter as I hurry down the block for the nearby sandwich joint.
I doubt Jace eats there. He seems like more of a fancy restaurant, five-star, upscale dining kind of guy.
Thankfully, I don’t see him when I glance in through the glass windows before opening the door.
“Olivia.” Luka’s voice startles me from behind.
I see his reflection in the glass as my hand is poised at the entrance of the eatery.
I drop the door handle and spin around to face him.
“Did you get our message?” Luka asks.
I’m surprised to see that he’s delivering the message himself. Doesn’t he have men that take care of those tasks?
“My phone isn’t on me,” I say. It’s not a lie.
He digs out a burner phone from his pocket, handing it to me.
I purse my lips. How do I get rid of this creep? “I don’t want your phone,” I say.
“I’m not asking,” Luka says. He pushes it into my hand, forcing me to take the device. “We need information, and you’re just the perfect person to give it to us. Put the thumb drive into Jace’s personal computer, at home.”
“What? You’re crazy if you think I’m going to do that.”