with that.”
He took a sip of his drink before setting it down. “Good. That’ll save time and I’ll run it against a few of the databases I’m pulling from your systems. I set a few other things up to run overnight and I can look at the data in the morning.”
“You were busy this afternoon.”
He shrugged. “A few simple programs to begin organizing your staff lists. I’ll take it up a few notches after we get to Paris and get set up at your offices there.”
“I can get you access to the Paris office but I won’t be able to join you. I’m holding the meetings at my home.”
Her words hit a mark she wasn’t even aiming for as he put down his glass without even taking a sip. “You can’t be serious.”
“Of course I am. I use this week of meetings to entertain and I always do it from my home. It’s more personal that way.”
“Abby. You’re dealing with a security breach that may have originated with your staff. You can’t put yourself at risk like that.” All hint of teasing and innuendo was gone as he stared at her with that stark blue gaze.
“Nothing’s going to happen in my home. And no one stays there. They’re brought in from a nearby hotel.”
“Doesn’t change the fact they’re there for hours on end. Do you have any idea how easy it will be for someone to slip away for a few minutes and get a sense of the house?”
Abby had been diligent about tamping down her own sense of paranoia, unwilling to allow the out-of-control feelings to invade her annual meeting plans and in a few brief moments, Campbell had managed to bring them welling right back up to the surface. Forcing a sense of bravado into her tone she didn’t really feel she pushed back. “It can’t be that bad. I’ll add some additional security detail.”
“So you have some? At the house now?”
“I have a state-of-the-art alarm system, installed a year ago, and maintained with monthly software upgrades.”
He was already reaching for his phone when she stilled his arm. “What are you doing?”
“Getting someone in there now. You can’t just rely on the technology, especially if the person we’re dealing with has the skills we suspect.”
“There’s nothing to be done for it tonight, Campbell.”
“It’s five in the morning in Paris and the best don’t sleep anyway. I want a team in there immediately and I want the house swept for devices and bugs before you arrive tomorrow.”
“It’s a good system. Custom designed.” She couldn’t resist adding that last bit, more than a little embarrassed to have her ability to protect herself found lacking.
His eyebrows rose at that as he reached for his whiskey once more. After a hearty sip, he turned toward her. “I’m not trying to scare you, Abby. Believe me, that’s the last thing I want to do, but I don’t understand why you aren’t taking this seriously. You were concerned enough to call my sister to secure our help. Add on you can’t account for a significant problem in your security protocols.”
“I am taking this seriously.” She snapped out the words. “I’ve been through this before and it was nothing. I’m not going to look like I’m crying wolf and running around like a helpless little woman. I won’t do that again.”
His already sharp gaze grew even more pointed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. It was a long time ago.”
“Then why’d you say it?”
She took a deep breath, willing her raging emotions to cool. Why had she even mentioned it? She wasn’t helpless. She was a strong, resourceful woman and she knew how to take care of herself.
So why the hell couldn’t she find her balance?
“I don’t want to live in fear. That’s not a way to live.”
“No, it’s not. But ignoring the problem isn’t going to make it go away. And ignoring the true root of your feelings isn’t helping, either.” When she remained silent, he pressed on. “So what happened?”
“I had an incident about a year
He took a sip of his drink before setting it down. “Good. That’ll save time and I’ll run it against a few of the databases I’m pulling from your systems. I set a few other things up to run overnight and I can look at the data in the morning.”
“You were busy this afternoon.”
He shrugged. “A few simple programs to begin organizing your staff lists. I’ll take it up a few notches after we get to Paris and get set up at your offices there.”
“I can get you access to the Paris office but I won’t be able to join you. I’m holding the meetings at my home.”
Her words hit a mark she wasn’t even aiming for as he put down his glass without even taking a sip. “You can’t be serious.”
“Of course I am. I use this week of meetings to entertain and I always do it from my home. It’s more personal that way.”
“Abby. You’re dealing with a security breach that may have originated with your staff. You can’t put yourself at risk like that.” All hint of teasing and innuendo was gone as he stared at her with that stark blue gaze.
“Nothing’s going to happen in my home. And no one stays there. They’re brought in from a nearby hotel.”
“Doesn’t change the fact they’re there for hours on end. Do you have any idea how easy it will be for someone to slip away for a few minutes and get a sense of the house?”
Abby had been diligent about tamping down her own sense of paranoia, unwilling to allow the out-of-control feelings to invade her annual meeting plans and in a few brief moments, Campbell had managed to bring them welling right back up to the surface. Forcing a sense of bravado into her tone she didn’t really feel she pushed back. “It can’t be that bad. I’ll add some additional security detail.”
“So you have some? At the house now?”
“I have a state-of-the-art alarm system, installed a year ago, and maintained with monthly software upgrades.”
He was already reaching for his phone when she stilled his arm. “What are you doing?”
“Getting someone in there now. You can’t just rely on the technology, especially if the person we’re dealing with has the skills we suspect.”
“There’s nothing to be done for it tonight, Campbell.”
“It’s five in the morning in Paris and the best don’t sleep anyway. I want a team in there immediately and I want the house swept for devices and bugs before you arrive tomorrow.”
“It’s a good system. Custom designed.” She couldn’t resist adding that last bit, more than a little embarrassed to have her ability to protect herself found lacking.
His eyebrows rose at that as he reached for his whiskey once more. After a hearty sip, he turned toward her. “I’m not trying to scare you, Abby. Believe me, that’s the last thing I want to do, but I don’t understand why you aren’t taking this seriously. You were concerned enough to call my sister to secure our help. Add on you can’t account for a significant problem in your security protocols.”
“I am taking this seriously.” She snapped out the words. “I’ve been through this before and it was nothing. I’m not going to look like I’m crying wolf and running around like a helpless little woman. I won’t do that again.”
His already sharp gaze grew even more pointed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. It was a long time ago.”
“Then why’d you say it?”
She took a deep breath, willing her raging emotions to cool. Why had she even mentioned it? She wasn’t helpless. She was a strong, resourceful woman and she knew how to take care of herself.
So why the hell couldn’t she find her balance?
“I don’t want to live in fear. That’s not a way to live.”
“No, it’s not. But ignoring the problem isn’t going to make it go away. And ignoring the true root of your feelings isn’t helping, either.” When she remained silent, he pressed on. “So what happened?”
“I had an incident about a year
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