Page 117 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

"I'm stating it outright," Viktoria says firmly."Richard deliberately created a scenario where my sister's credentials wouldn't be properly verified, ensuring he had leverage against her if she threatened to expose his embezzlement."

The implications hit me like ice water."He set her up to be discredited if she turned him in."

"Precisely," Luke confirms."Classic insurance policy.If she exposed his theft, he could reveal her credential fraud, destroying her credibility as a witness."

"And when he fled the country, he left this little time bomb waiting," Connor adds."Clever, in a sociopathic sort of way."

My thoughts race, reassembling the puzzle with this new piece."But why would Duncan have this information?How did he know to look at Karina's credentials specifically?"

Viktoria smiles grimly, opening her own laptop."That's where things get really interesting.I've been running network analysis on communications between Richard and various external parties during his last three months at Abernathy Corp."

She turns her screen toward me, displaying what appears to be a complex web of communications connections."Richard was in regular contact with someone at MacTavish Global from April through June.The communications were routed through multiple VPNs, but the digital fingerprint matches servers Duncan uses for his personal communications."

"You're saying Richard and Duncan were collaborating?"I ask, struggling to process the implications.

"Not initially," Viktoria clarifies."Based on the content I've recovered, Richard first reached out offering information about Abernathy Corp's acquisition strategy.Duncan rebuffed him until Richard mentioned having 'insurance' against a key Abernathy employee who could potentially cause problems post-acquisition."

"Karina," I murmur.

"She was leading several projects Duncan considered valuable," Luke adds."Including the cybersecurity education initiative that's central to the acquisition's public relations strategy."

I lean back in my chair, mind reeling."So when Richard fled..."

"Duncan maintained the connection," Viktoria confirms."And when the #KiltedCasanova campaign started gaining traction, they saw an opportunity to leverage both the viral moment and Karina's vulnerability."

Our strategy session is interrupted by Alana bursting through the door, tablet in hand and expression frantic.

"I'm so sorry, Mr.Abernathy, but you need to see this immediately," she gasps, clearly having run from her desk."The Scottish Tourism Board has just named you an honorary citizen of Edinburgh and wants you to be the face of their 'Men in Kilts' calendar fundraiser."

I stare at her blankly."What?"

"They've issued a formal press release.”She thrusts the tablet at me."They're calling you 'Scotland's most eligible export' and have offered you a castle tour."

I blink.Slowly.“My family already owns a castle.”

"Not this one.It's the royal residence.With the actual royal family.As their guest."

Before I can formulate a response, she's already checking another notification on her phone."Oh!And three different reality shows have reached out about you potentially starring in their 'eligible bachelor' seasons.One of them is called 'Kilted Courtship' and is being created specifically for you."

Connor snorts, clearly struggling to maintain composure."Please tell me you're considering it.I would pay actual money to see you hand out roses while glaring menacingly at hopeful contestants."

"This isn't funny," I growl.

"It's a little funny," Luke smiles.

Alana's phone pings again."Um, also, someone has started a petition for you to carry the Scottish flag in the next Olympics opening ceremony.It already has fifty thousand signatures."

"I'm not even an Olympian!"

"The petition argues that your 'cultural contribution to Scottish global awareness' qualifies you," Alana elaborates."They're calling it 'Kilts for Gold.'"

My head falls into my hands."Make it stop."

"I've been trying, sir.But every time I issue a decline statement, it seems to fuel more interest."Alana shifts awkwardly."There's also a fanfiction now where you reconcile with Ms.Peters on the summit of Ben Nevis during a dramatic thunderstorm.It's...quite detailed."

"Thank you, Alana," I say through gritted teeth."That will be all."

She nods and hastily retreats, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.