Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“That was before you saw my set-up. Come on.”
He grabs my hand as if we’re more than two people spending time together out of necessity rather than desire. Even though I know I should pull my hand away and rub off the electricity arcing between us, I don’t. I can’t.
“I don’t know, Wilder. You’ve seen one techie set up, then you’ve seen them all.”
He stops and turns to me with a mock, hurt expression. “You’ll eat your words, babe. I’m not worried. Come on.”
We come to a stop at a thick metal door at the end of a hidden hallway off one end of the bar area, and Wilder pushes it open. “Go on inside and check it out.
I step inside and look around the room with cherry wood walls, glass and metal desks, and what looks to be the most expensive office chairs on the planet. Gia sits in one of them. On the other side of a glass wall sits a bunch of tall black contraptions with flashing lights. “What’s all that.”
“Servers. Keeps important data stored that no one else can get to.”
“Shit. Really?” That’s like some CIA type of shit, and suddenly, I’m both worried and intrigued. “Who are you?”
“I’m Wilder.” He flashes a wide grin and steps up beside me. “International man of mystery.”
I snort-laugh and shake my head. “How international? Like Mexico or like Switzerland?”
“Depends. Which version do you find sexier?”
All of them. “Who said I find any of them sexy?”
“Ouch,” he grunts and clutches his chest. “Gia, tell Maven how absolutely sick this office is.”
“Totally fucking sick,” she deadpans never taking her eyes off the computer. She looks up at me and then looks away quickly, almost guiltily, and I wonder if that means she’s jealous because she wants Wilder or has had him. Recently.
I look away, nervous at the sudden uncertainty. “Uhm, so, yeah, it’s pretty cool. I don’t get what all of this is for, but it looks like one of those hacker movies.”
Gia laughs and flashes a satisfied look in Wilder’s direction. “Told you.”
“Amateurs,” he growls under his breath but loud enough for us both to hear.
“So,” Gia begins, suddenly showing signs of hesitation, and I take a couple steps back.
“I should, ah, go,” I say and point a thumb over my shoulder.
“No. Stay.” Gia’s gaze is steadier now, and it’s focusing really hard on me, which makes me nervous as fuck. “I’ve been looking into some things,” she says, and I think she’s talking to Wilder, except her gaze refuses to leave me.
“Uhm, what kinds of things?” It’s a stupid question because, clearly, she’s not talking to me. I’m nervous now, and I don’t know how else to respond.
“Important things,” she says with a shrug and leans back in her seat, tapping her fingertips on the arms of the chair one by one. “You ever send naked photos to your boyfriends, you know, to spice things up?”
“What the fuck, Gia?” Wilder’s grunted question in my defense makes Gia smile, but she keeps her focus on my face.
“No. Honestly, I’m too old for shit like that, and I’m so paranoid about those revenge porn stories you hear. What a nightmare!”
I shake my head at the thought of even doing something like that, especially given my abysmal track record with men.
“I’m with you on that,” Gia says with a soulful look. “Have a seat.”
I don’t know Gia well, but she’s a pretty straightforward girl who didn’t waste time mincing her words, and her current reticence puts me on edge.
“Uhm, okay. What’s up Gia?”
“Do you know anything about some photos of you online? Naked photos?”
I gasp loudly and shake my head. “You must be mistaken. I mean, I know you’re good at what you do, but I’m kind of nondescript. Plenty of people look like me. I would never take naked pictures of myself, let alone publish them.”
“Shit. I was afraid that’s what you’d say.”
“What the fuck is going on, Gia?” Wilder stands to her side, glaring down at her, his expression borderline murderous.
“Hey,” she barks back and points a finger at him. “Don’t shoot the fucking messenger. I was looking into the other stuff when I came across the photos of Maven. I created a program to find them all and delete them from the web, but if someone saved them or took screen grabs for personal use, it’s out of my hands.”
“Personal use!” The idea is disgusting but not surprising. “No, not of me. Thank you, Gia.”
“No problem. You want to see them?” At my outraged look, she smiles. “I haven’t deleted them off the server yet because the system is still searching to make sure they’re all gone.”
“Oh. Okay.” So they’re not gone, not yet. “Why would I want to see them?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a location or an item of clothing will help you figure out who took the photos and when.”