Page 231 of Billion-Dollar Attitudes

I clapped Bob on the back, “Now, we’re finally getting somewhere!”

Chapter Nineteen

Mitch

On that sunny Monday morning, I ducked into the black SUV and closed the door, feeling the leather seats creak as Bob started the engine and drove us toward Rosedale Tech's headquarters. It had been months since our successful grand opening, where we had rubbed shoulders with local celebrities and prominent figures from Silicon Valley. The press portrayed me as a successful bachelor on the rise, and it felt great.

But things had changed since then, and not for the better. My colleagues and I had hit a rough patch in our careers through no fault of our own, leaving the future of Rosedale Tech uncertain. Nevertheless, I felt grateful for the stroke of luck that fate had given me in my personal life.

Just moments ago, I'd kissed my baby daughter and fiancé goodbye. Then Amy snagged my arm before I could grab my 'secure' laptop and reminded me, "Don't forget, I'm going shopping today with Mum and some of the gals for my wedding dress and their bridesmaid dresses."

"Have fun. I can't wait to see my blushing bride..." I said, grateful Giuseppe and Elana would be footing the bill. "Oh, and your security is already here. You're in good hands."

While relaxing in the luxurious SUV, I thought about how different my work life was from my personal one. Although the successful grand opening event felt like it happened ages ago, I was still uncertain about what was in store for me and my coworkers. Nonetheless, I was presently reenergized by the advice given to us by the Russo family, despite their questionable affiliations and shady habits.

Today, I had promised myself I would focus on finishing the Shock and Awe app design and would encourage others to do the same. We were ecstatic we had a buyer who wanted to installed in the next month. Yet, that promise to myself was short-lived when Bob pulled up to the stop light near the Stop-and-Go, and we noticed the yellow bike was still in the same spot.

I leaned forward and tapped Bob on the shoulder, "Hey, are you sure your tracking device is working?"

He pressed a button on his phone, and we heard a ping sound, confirming that, indeed, the device was active. "I have to tell ya, Antonio's equipment is known to rarely fail, and in the rare event that it does, it can lead to dire results for the vendor or the operator responsible."

"So, what do you make of it? I wonder how long that bike has been parked there in the rack?"

"That's on my to-do list today. I plan to interview the store manager to see what I can learn. Now that everything has been set up to keep you safe, we'll start piecing together the picture the evidence shows us."

I breathed in deeply, and my shoulders relaxed as Bob pulled up to the office and I got out. "I'll text you when I'm ready to leave."

"Don't forget, Giuseppe is planning to stop by around one to catch you up on a few things."

"Got it! Thanks."

As I walked toward the building, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had crept up on me. The bike had seemed insignificant at first, but now it felt like a puzzle piece that didn't fit. I wondered what other clues I might have missed and what they could mean for our company's future and our safety. The uncertainty of it all made me feel powerless, and I had to find a way to regain control. As I entered the lobby, I made a mental note to focus on what I could control and trust my instincts. After all, sometimes, the best way to move forward was to step back and reassess the situation with a clear head.

As I made my way to the breakroom following my departure from the elevator, I was excited for the usual Monday morning assortment of pastries and drinks that Courtney reliably set up for us. Typically, the basket next to the Keurig machine would be brimming with all of our preferred coffee and tea options. However, as I strode along the hallway, I detected no aroma of fresh coffee and encountered a group of individuals with somber expressions when I rounded the corner.

As Brad sat at the table with his head in his hands, Chase and Guy ignored me when I entered. Chase was seated next to Brad, gazing at the floor, and Guy was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, looking out the window. Sensing the gloomy atmosphere, I asked, "What's the matter?"

"Courtney has tendered her resignation. She left a letter on my desk," Chase said.

"What? What happened?" I asked, stunned.

Brad shook his head and sighed, "Her father insisted she come home to Wyoming. He's afraid for her safety, and he's up in years." Brad raised his head to look at me. "I think she was secretly feeling guilty that his worry over her would cause health issues."

"I'm sorry, bud!" I whispered and placed my hand on his shoulder.

Brad shrugged. "It doesn't take a genius to figure out I'm next, and since she and I have been dating, that probably means the psycho will come after her too!"

"Did you know she was leaving?" Chase asked Brad.

"Yes, and no. When she called her father to check on him using the flip phone and had to explain why she was afraid to use her own phone, I figured it was only a matter of time."

As a new dad, I suddenly thought of Ava and had a newfound understanding of why Courtney's father had wanted her to come home so he could protect her. Clearly, we had not been offering the required level of protection our staff needed. All the extra counseling, extra paid days off, and paid security was only a band-aide of sorts.

"We've been very selfish," Guy muttered. "Has anyone else resigned that you know of, Chase?

"No, but the day is young...."

"Well!" Brad stood. "Sitting around here moping isn't going to change anything. It's true we've been dealt a shitty hand, but we also have been doing our best. Courtney and I worked our asses off while we were holed-up inside the tent witnessing the first rain Palm Springs had in months and losing two backpacks full of food to a hungry bear.”

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