Page 33 of Moonlighter

He laughs. “Don’t get any ideas. It’s true that I didn’t expect to fly in more staff for this event. But Alex is not the only tech executive I’m protecting in Hawaii this week.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, I pulled agents off other work. But she’s the only one who’s having security issues. And we haven’t identified the guy in the break-in video. Yet.”

“It wasn’t the ex-boyfriend,” I offer. “I saw that guy at lunch yesterday.”

“And?” Max asks. “What did you think?”

“He doesn’t work out.”

Max laughs. “Your measure of a man’s worth.”

“Hey!” Although he is partly right. “I couldn’t exactly see into his soul from across a crowded restaurant. But he isn’t a grave physical threat. He looked angry, though.”

“At you?”

“Yeah. He wasn’t expecting to see Alex with a guy.”

“And you rubbed it in, I guess?”

“A little. I sent a message.”

He’s quiet for a second. “And the break-in happened an hour later.”

“Right. Which seems ridiculously aggressive for a rich guy with a romantic grudge.”

“I think so, too,” Max chuckles.

“Which means someone else broke in,” I conclude. “Who?”

“Not sure,” Max grunts. “I’m working on a couple theories.”

“Care to share?”

“Not at this time.”

I groan. “So let me get this straight. Either her ex has sociopathic tendencies, or some other character is stalking Alex. But you won’t tell me anything more.”

“That sums it up pretty well. But Eric—this is normal. All my clients are at risk, pretty much all the time. Worrying about them is what I do. Alex’s break-in is just another day at the office. Let me go do my job, and when I have actionable advice, you’ll know it.”

“And you wonder why I’m eager to work with you. I don’t even know thenameof your company.”

“Because you don’t need to. It’s not a secret because I’m an asshole. It’s a secret because it makes an important point. Anyone who works for me needs to understand that secrets are currency. If they can’t accept that, they aren’t a good fit.”

Then I’m not a good fit. I don’t say it aloud, because I don’t wish to prolong this conversation. And ultimately, I don’t need to know the name of a company I’ll never work for. “Whatever.”

“Stay the course, Eric. It’s either the boyfriend or it’s not.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” I grunt. “Alex is more afraid of him than anything else.”

“Agreed. Which is why you’re so important to this equation. Your job is twofold—to keep Jared Tatum away from Alex, and to make Alex feel safe. You keep an eye on Alex so that we can keep an eye on everything else.”

“Fine,” I agree. “I have to get off the phone now, or I’ll have an uneven tan on my face.”

Max belly laughs. “It’s good to hear your priorities are in line.”

“As always. Later, killjoy.”