Hate to Love You (Strong Brothers 4)

Marcus looked at me with pity. “I know it’s hard. But think about it. Noah is the black sheep of the family. Never taken seriously. Even when he tries to prove himself on his own, the family just wants to shut him up in a tech dungeon in the Strong business.”

That wasn’t right. Sure, they wanted Noah on board, but not to hide him away.

“So, he decides to take matters into his own hands.”

“That still doesn’t explain why he’d hack his family’s company. What’s in it for him?” This was crazy.

Marcus gave me another one of those sympathetic smiles. “He’d be able to take over the company. At least that’s how he explained it. With my help, we could get control of the company. It’s an intriguing offer. I’m surprised he hasn’t confided in you seeing that he seems so attracted to you. Then again, he probably knows how close you are to his grandmother.”

It was odd just how much Marcus seemed to know about the relationships in the family. But what was more disconcerting was the idea that Noah was behind the hack and had gone to Marcus for help in a takeover.

That couldn’t be true. It just couldn’t

Marcus sighed as he poured me more wine. “I can see that you don’t believe me. I have no reason to lie.”

“I don’t know that,” I said.

He smiled. “I suppose you’re right. Well, consider this; hasn’t Noah determined that someone at Strong Incorporated launched the malware that allowed for the hack?”

I nodded.

“And how sure are you that the hack came from Hong Kong. Someone like Noah would be able to fake that.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

“And then there’s the fact that he’s here. Everyone knows that Noah has no interest in the family business and yet he agreed to come. Oh, I’m sure he put up a little bit of a fight, but he still came. What better way to cover up one’s own tracks than to be the one to investigate it?” Marcus leaned forward. “I bet he hasn’t been able to figure out what document or email was the source of the malware.”

I gave a little nod.

“Do you really believe that? Noah is very good at what he does. How can he find a hack outside the system but not the breach inside the system?”

Oh God. Could he be right?

“You look a little pale. Are you alright?”

I nodded. “I think I might be a little seasick,” I said to explain the nausea I was feeling.

“Let me take you back to shore,” he said waving a hand to someone standing off to the side.

“Yes, I think I’d like to go home.”

“Of course. I’m so sorry Andi. I didn’t know if I should say anything, but I know you’re a woman of strong morals and conviction.”

Absently, I nodded.

Marcus escorted me back to the hotel. He offered to take me to my room, but I told him I’d be fine. Besides, I had to talk to Noah.

Before I went to confront Noah, I called Margaret. I couldn’t come right out and accuse Noah, but she had to know what Marcus had said.

“It’s four in the morning here, Andi, I hope this is important,” Margaret said when she answered.

Dammit, I’d forgotten to consider the time change. Still, this was important. “I just met with Marcus Chen and he said some things to me that were very concerning.”

“Oh? What does Noah think?”

“I haven’t told him yet. It has to do with him.” I bit my lip as I leaned against the wall in a quiet corner of the hotel.

There was a pause. “What did he say?”