“I bought that company out during a merger four years ago. Why is that important?” I asked.
“According to newspaper articles, that merger and acquisition resulted in a massive number of layoffs. Some newspapers speculate over five hundred employees were taken out by the time the merger and purchase was complete. Not too long after that, Emma interviewed for your personal assistant position.”
“Wait, was Emma one of the ones who were laid off?” I asked.
“No, Emma quit once her father was laid off.”
“Fuck,” I said.
“You said Emma’s been working with you for around four years, right? If I go back in there and start up my research again, I’m almost certain I’m going to find that she interviewed for your company directly not long after quitting her job at LampLight Corporations.”
“I don’t keep tabs on who was fired because of purchases and mergers. I’m not solely responsible for Emma’s father getting laid off.”
“A disgruntled daughter wouldn’t see it that way.”
“Then why come after me now? That was four years ago, and she’s been working with me for a long time now.”
“She could be working a long-term revenge scenario. Lie in wait long e
nough for the heat of the merger to die down and for it to fall to the back of your mind. It would help cover up her tracks because you would jump to her defense because of your track record with her,” she said.
“I still don’t think it’s Emma.”
“And trust me. I’m not willing to try and convince you any more of that. But this Gretchen thing is weird too.”
“Do I even need to note what Jacob said about his assailant? About him being a tall guy and needing a tall assailant to get the jump on him like that?” I asked.
“Heels,” she said. “Heels exist. And so do long, hard things like crowbars and metal pipes. Can I get back to this Gretchen thing?”
“Whatever,” I said.
“Your ex-girlfriend, who is now a reporter—so she says—just happened to show up when we took off for Vegas. Comes looking for you in Vegas. Finds you in Vegas. And has made another trip to your office prior to the Vegas trip. You know what that means.”
“She’s now a suspect,” I said with a sigh.
“Now you’re getting it. I’m going to look more into this whole Emma debacle as well as get the scoop on your favorite ex.”
“She’s not my favorite.”
“Trust me. She’s your favorite,” she said. “I’m also going to get into Emma’s computer while she’s not here. Don’t worry, I won’t delete anything confidential.”
“I’m not going to even try to stop you anymore,” I said.
“Sounds like a good idea,” she said as she left.
I watched her turn a corner and head toward Emma’s little office. It was down the hall from mine and easily accessible from the elevator. Truth be told, it used to be a storage closet, but I had it renovated so she had a place to go and spend her time. Emma enjoyed her privacy, and she hated having a desk stationed outside of my office like a secretary, so I had tried to provide the accommodations to make her comfortable. Looking back, it was probably what started her thinking I had a crush on her, but having an office for Emma proved to be a good thing. It platformed her into a full-time personal assistant, and she became someone I could trust.
Someone with a crush who needed to be handled, but she still grew to be someone I could trust.
I’d given her some time off with all the heat brewing around the company. With Jacob getting attacked, I didn’t want her hanging around for a few days until things could settle down, and we could get back on track with this investigation.
I turned my back as Sam worked her way into Emma’s office, trying to distract my mind with anything.
Anything to get my mind off the shitstorm my life had become.
Chapter 20
Sam