Page 32 of Claimed By My Billionaire Ex

Fish rolled his eyes. "We don't even know if this happened in person. It's more likely that someone hacked it remotely."

"Impossible," I muttered. Someone could potentially hack the password remotely, but the zippered procedure I use on the folders makes it impossible for the folders to be copied remotely."

"There's still no proof," Fish hissed.

Carter lifted his head and narrowed his eyes at Fish. "You said the cameras in the hall went out. And then the blackout. Just admit you fucked up, man."

Jessie lifted his hand. "All right, we just need to calm down. We're already pursuing a lead of a local hacker who has been very vocal about his distaste of my career. We'll see where it goes. In the meantime, Lucas, how confident are you in the privacy of those zippered files?"

"One hundred percent. No one will be able to breach the files. I'd bet my life on it."

Carter studied me, biting his bottom lip. "I fucking hope you're right, Lucas. Because what's on those videos...that will ruin us."

Jessie cleared his throat. "Carter, the only person who is going to ruin anything is your fucking mouth. Now learn to keep it shut, or so help me, I'll make it my first job as president to get you out of the Senate."

Carter threw his napkin on the table. "I'm not going to say shit, Jessie. And I just hope you all are right. Because if whoever stole it opens those folders, there won't be any presidential campaign to fight for." Carter slid his chair back. "Gentlemen."

As he left the restaurant, the tension around the table dissipated. Fish's shoulders relaxed, and Jessie cracked his neck. "That man...I swear."

Fish grabbed Carter's uneaten plate of fish and started eating it. "He needs some Xanax."

"More like a lobotomy," Jessie muttered.

Fish glanced up at me. "You're really that confident in your system, Lucas?"

"I am."

Jessie nodded. "I trust it if you do, Lucas. You're the best in the business for a reason. And it's your code of honor that I respect. It's why you're front on my list for the VP slot. Lord knows Carter wants it. Part of the reason he's so anxious. I'll trail him along just to make sure he stays sealed like cement, though."

I squeezed the back of my neck. "Yeah, Jess, about that. I'm honored by this offer, but I just think I'm a bit too single for the type of candidate you're looking for."

Jessie raised his eyebrows. "Looks to me like you and Mallory are doing just great."

Mallory. Jesus Christ. He still didn't know her name.

"I don't know about that," I muttered. "We had a bit of a falling out after the party."

A strange smile spread across Jessie's face. "You sure there's no reconsidering that, Lucas?"

"Trust me when I say this, Jess. If you're seriously thinking about me as your VP, she is not the kind of woman you want by my side."

Fish snorted into his potatoes. "Told you that jumped the gun on this one, Jessie."

I glanced at him. "Jumped the gun on what?"

Jessie bobbed his head side to side. "I may have leaked a potential story to the press about you."

"Sorry, you did what?"

Jessie leaned forward. "Lucas, don't be mad. You know how this business works. I've already announced my plan to run...and it's always a mystery who the elect is going to chose as their right hand man. I want you as my VP, but we need to gain some momentum first. People need to get to know you. The public needs to have a crush before they fall in love. And you know the public. They swoon for love. We just happened to have a really good photo to use."

My ears started to ring. I couldn't tell if my blood had frozen or started to boil. "What photo?"

Not even five minutes later, I was standing outside Miller's, googling my name.

"What...the...fuck?"

The headline was bad enough:Billionaire bachelor Lucas Wilson, a potential VP candidate to Mayor Isaacs, is finally off the market.

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