around the IT department—and in Trent’s office
Julie sauntered in with a sheaf of papers in her hands. She cast a glance at Victoria, and Victoria got the message—sizing up the competition. She’d seen that look all too often over the years. Folding her arms, she gave the look back. Julie’s dress fit her as if she’d been poured into it. Turning to Trent, Julie batted her eyelashes. “I can’t access my files, Trent. Something happened to my computer.”
He stood. “Did you leave it on all night again? You know the rules, Julie. It’s important to log out before you leave the office otherwise it goes into the security mode and shuts down.”
Biting her lower lip, Julie cast a worried glance at Victoria. Eyes narrowing, Victoria wondered if Julie could be the leak at the company. She worked in the accounts department, and wasn’t one of Victoria’s subordinates, so Victoria didn’t know her all that well. But Julie didn’t really seem the type to pull off the thief of company information—right now she looked worried that Victoria might say something to get Julie into trouble. “Don’t tell anyone, Trent. Maybe…I am not sure… I might have forgot to log out.”
“Mum’s the word, Julie.” He winked. “You go on back to office. I’ll be right there. It won’t take that long to fix it.”
After she left, Victoria put a hand on her hip. “If you keep on protecting these imbeciles, you’re going to end up losing your job. She should be more careful.”
“Julie hasn’t got the best brain in business.” He closed his laptop and picked up his phone. “But did you look at that body?” He gave a low whistle.
Victoria shook her head. On principle, she hated every girl he dated. He always seemed to pick the girls with the lowest IQ—bimbos who didn’t want anything more than a good time. She didn’t like people who wasted their potential. “For once, take my advice and stay away from her. What if she’s deliberately leaving the system open so her accomplice can steal data? That’s something to think about. If she goes down, she’s going to take you with her.”
He glanced at her and shook his head. “We’re working in an office, and not one associated with the FBI. You can’t look at everyone with suspicion.”
She waved a hand in dismissal. “Whatever! I gotta go.”
As she turned, Victoria nearly bumped into her boss, Peter Iverson.
In his late forties, Peter could have still passed for a man in his thirties. He kept his brown hair neatly trimmed and dark, his face lightly tanned, and his smile bright and cheerful. He wasn’t smiling now. Smoothing a hand down a dark blue tie, he glanced from Trent to Victoria. “What’s going on? I thought you were going to deliver the file on my desk today?”
“It’s ready, sir.” She held out the folder. “I was just—”
“Just explaining a problem she’s having with her computer. I’m sorry to have kept you with so many questions. I’ll go check it out right now.”
His lie was so smooth, so easily spun, she found it difficult to keep up. “Yeah! Thank you, Trent.”
Taking the file, Peter headed out of Trent’s office. Victoria followed him. “I’m going to work on the Cooper contracts now, sir.”
He stopped and tapped the file against his thigh. “I’ll need the first draft by tomorrow. And, Victoria…” Dropping his voice, he glanced around. He looked at her, his dark eyes serious and intent. ”Do you have any idea how information is leaking out of our office? We had another theft last night. I’ve heard significant data was taken, and if it’s passed on to a rival company we’re going to be in deep trouble.”
She’d been in the office last night. The thief had been nowhere in sight. That meant the date must have been stolen through the IT system. Trent was right. But she didn’t want to tell her boss she’d begun her own investigation. He might tell her to back off, leave it to security. Far
Julie sauntered in with a sheaf of papers in her hands. She cast a glance at Victoria, and Victoria got the message—sizing up the competition. She’d seen that look all too often over the years. Folding her arms, she gave the look back. Julie’s dress fit her as if she’d been poured into it. Turning to Trent, Julie batted her eyelashes. “I can’t access my files, Trent. Something happened to my computer.”
He stood. “Did you leave it on all night again? You know the rules, Julie. It’s important to log out before you leave the office otherwise it goes into the security mode and shuts down.”
Biting her lower lip, Julie cast a worried glance at Victoria. Eyes narrowing, Victoria wondered if Julie could be the leak at the company. She worked in the accounts department, and wasn’t one of Victoria’s subordinates, so Victoria didn’t know her all that well. But Julie didn’t really seem the type to pull off the thief of company information—right now she looked worried that Victoria might say something to get Julie into trouble. “Don’t tell anyone, Trent. Maybe…I am not sure… I might have forgot to log out.”
“Mum’s the word, Julie.” He winked. “You go on back to office. I’ll be right there. It won’t take that long to fix it.”
After she left, Victoria put a hand on her hip. “If you keep on protecting these imbeciles, you’re going to end up losing your job. She should be more careful.”
“Julie hasn’t got the best brain in business.” He closed his laptop and picked up his phone. “But did you look at that body?” He gave a low whistle.
Victoria shook her head. On principle, she hated every girl he dated. He always seemed to pick the girls with the lowest IQ—bimbos who didn’t want anything more than a good time. She didn’t like people who wasted their potential. “For once, take my advice and stay away from her. What if she’s deliberately leaving the system open so her accomplice can steal data? That’s something to think about. If she goes down, she’s going to take you with her.”
He glanced at her and shook his head. “We’re working in an office, and not one associated with the FBI. You can’t look at everyone with suspicion.”
She waved a hand in dismissal. “Whatever! I gotta go.”
As she turned, Victoria nearly bumped into her boss, Peter Iverson.
In his late forties, Peter could have still passed for a man in his thirties. He kept his brown hair neatly trimmed and dark, his face lightly tanned, and his smile bright and cheerful. He wasn’t smiling now. Smoothing a hand down a dark blue tie, he glanced from Trent to Victoria. “What’s going on? I thought you were going to deliver the file on my desk today?”
“It’s ready, sir.” She held out the folder. “I was just—”
“Just explaining a problem she’s having with her computer. I’m sorry to have kept you with so many questions. I’ll go check it out right now.”
His lie was so smooth, so easily spun, she found it difficult to keep up. “Yeah! Thank you, Trent.”
Taking the file, Peter headed out of Trent’s office. Victoria followed him. “I’m going to work on the Cooper contracts now, sir.”
He stopped and tapped the file against his thigh. “I’ll need the first draft by tomorrow. And, Victoria…” Dropping his voice, he glanced around. He looked at her, his dark eyes serious and intent. ”Do you have any idea how information is leaking out of our office? We had another theft last night. I’ve heard significant data was taken, and if it’s passed on to a rival company we’re going to be in deep trouble.”
She’d been in the office last night. The thief had been nowhere in sight. That meant the date must have been stolen through the IT system. Trent was right. But she didn’t want to tell her boss she’d begun her own investigation. He might tell her to back off, leave it to security. Far
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