Page 49 of The Refusal

“Could it be somebody internally? You know this whole thing with Fabian could just be a red herring,” she says. ‘It might be nothing to do with him.’

And damn me if she isn’t going through the same thought processes that I’ve had. I’ve done a run-through of the team in Hong Kong, but it got me nowhere. I’m too distant from the people and the day-to-day operations; we need to have boots on the ground.

“It could be. I’m not sure of the detail of the team and I don’t want the general manager to think I’m investigating his employees just yet.”

I probably ought to brief a private investigator to dig into it, though. We can’t afford to delay. Our Sunday of fun and games is a world away from the harsh reality of this.

“Yeah, I get that,” Jo says.

“Who’d you want to send out to Hong Kong?”

“I’ll go. I understand your systems better than anyone now.”

We’re in the middle of a shitstorm but the fact that she’d step in on something like this, that she’s not leaving it to her team, makes me warm inside. I’d been wondering whether it would be enough to send Matt out there, but the thought of spending a long flight and few days out there with Jo sends more warmth buzzing through me. My sad guy brain goes straight to us having seats together and her falling asleep on me. I daren’t let my mind stray any farther than that.

“Who’s going from your side?” she says.

“Me.”

Jo’s silent on the other end of the phone.

“Could you go off tonight?” I push. “Straight from the office?”

“No problem. Let me sort my stuff out and pack, and I’ll come in as fast as I can.” All professional business.

“Thanks, Jo. I really appreciate it. I’ll see you in … what?”

“I’ll be with you in about an hour, maybe ninety minutes? Don’t worry, Janus. I’m delighted to do it. Taking down hackers is my thing. It’s why I do this.”

She’s a godsend. I put the phone down and shout for Maddie, who hustles into my office.

“We’ve got a hacking problem in Hong Kong. Can you find Matt? I need to talk to him now. We also need two flights out there today for myself and Jo Williams. Whatever we can get, but I’m not doing anything less than business class and I want flatbed seats. Someone needs to go to my apartment for a few clothes and anything else I’ll need for the trip. Jo will be here in about an hour and a half, and we’ve got meetings to do here first before we can leave. Get the PR agency on the phone. I need to brief them about possible media fallout if this gets out.”

She’s frantically scribbling away. “Your personal PR or the company one?”

“Both.”

“Passport details for Ms. Williams?”

“Call her.”

No doubt if the shit hits the fan on the security breach, then it will heat up around me as well. Julie, my personal PR, is there to handle the press interest if I attend some event, but I’m only too well aware that going to Hong Kong with a woman could lead to speculation if the media pick up on it. I’m heading into the eye of a storm.

31

Janus

Jo pulls out drawers and peeks into pockets as she settles herself into her business-class seat.

“Okay?” I say.

Her eyes are wide, and Fab’s comment about taking her away on a private jet pops into my head. I should have listened to him; he always had a talent for impressing women.

“How amazing is this?” she whispers to me, leaning back into her chair as the flight attendant hands her a glass of champagne. She blinks at it like she’s never seen anything quite so delicious and takes a small sip, smacking her soft pink lips together. She waves an arm around the cabin, oblivious to my ogling.

“Private jets are even better,” I lean in to say quietly, and, as she stares at me, I want to press her backward and taste the bubbles on her tongue.

“You’ve done that?”

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