Page 92 of Decoding Emma

“I have a washer and dryer, and I’m sure I can find you something to wear.”

The image of me in one of Asher’s white shirts flashed in my mind.“I’d like that.”

“Great.”He sprang up and made a beeline for his bedroom.

I shook my head.Asher seemed to have rebounded quickly after what we learned today.I was still processing.I was aware Greg disliked me, but apparently, it went way deeper than that.I had no idea what I’d done to make him hate me so much that he would sabotage a project I was working on.

My breath caught.If I stayed in tech, would that ever change?Tears burned behind my eyes.I didn’t want to leave tech; I loved it too much, but how could I continue?

Working with Asher and his team showed me what it felt like to be a valued member of a team.I needed to think about this, because there was no way I’d go work at my father’s company.That would be worse than Tri-O-Tech.

Asher came back into the room with a pair of sweats and a t-shirt in his hands.“I think these will work.”

Hiding a smile at his choice, I took them and went into the bathroom to change.Of course, they were a little big on me, but that was okay.I threw all my clothes in the washer, then met Asher in the kitchen.

“You’re thinking about work,” he said.

“How could you tell?”

“You stiffened and got a faraway look in your eyes.”

“Sorry.I really feel like I’ve missed something else.”

“Emma.”He cupped my shoulders.“If you did, it was so tiny it shouldn’t matter.I want you to relax now.We’ve all had a busy forty-eight hours.”He pulled me into his arms.

“You’re right.”I leaned against his chest.Worrying wasn’t going to help.Not right now, anyway.

“I’m always right.”

I playfully hit his arm.“Not always.”

“Always.”He guided me to the sofa and gave me the two things I needed most.

Cuddled in his arms, we watched some disaster movie, and I finally fell asleep.

Chapter Forty-Three

Asher

My steps were light when we walked into Fantasies, Inc.the next morning.Holding Emma in my arms all night did that to me.She’d fallen asleep in my arms on the sofa and barely stirred when I carried her to bed.

She’d been as exhausted as I was, but my body was wired this morning.“Coffee and food before we head up?”

“In a second.”Emma pulled me off to the side.“What happens now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Someone from Tri-O-Tech tried to sabotage your systems and derail a multi-million dollar project.Do I still have a contract here?”

I blinked in shock.“Of course you do.”

Emma shook her head.“There is no ‘of course’.”

The worry in her eyes made me draw her into my embrace, and she didn’t resist.“Emma, you were instrumental in discovering the ransomware and chasing down all the evidence we needed.”

“You and Ben got the confession.”

“Which wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t realized there was an insider component.”Her forehead wrinkled with worry.“FI needs you.”