Page 42 of Royal Deception

I glance at the nameplate pinned to her blazer.Lena Calloway, Executive Assistant.

The name rings a bell, and I recall the dossier I gathered on Veridex. Lena is Miles’s assistant. This just keeps getting better.

“Lena, my boss must have forgotten to email you to let you know I was coming,” I say, standing up and holding out my hand. With a careful flick of the wrist to brush off imaginary lint, I pull the fake name badge from my lapel and deposit it into my purse. “Clary Woodcrest, Rory Brannagan’s PA. I’m here on some business with Mr. Donovan.” I watch her reaction carefully, and she frowns.

“I’m sorry, but Mr. Donovan is on a business lunch right now.” She shakes her head. “I could rearrange a meeting, if you’d like?”

I pause, pretending to consider it. But I don’t need Miles anymore. I can work with Lena now that I’m here.

“Sorry about this,” she says, tone apologetic. “I would have been more prepared if I knew.”

“That’s fine. Our bosses can be so absent-minded sometimes, can’t they?”

Her lips quirk up. “Tell me about it. What would they do without us?”

“Is Miles hard to work for?” I ask, leaning against the wall.

“Miles doesn’t like people who waste his time. He’s… particular.”

“I get that. What about Mr. Veridan?”

“Mark?” she asks, her expression shifting for a moment. “He’s different. Likes to be more hands-on.”

An opening. I seize it. “His assistant must have their hands full, then.”

Lena hesitates, then sighs, her fingers tapping lightly against her knee. “You have no idea.”

I lean in slightly, lowering my voice just enough to make it feel like a shared secret. “What about this whole data breach thing? It’s crazy, right? That’s what Mr. Brannagan sent me over for.”

A half-truth is much easier to swallow than an outright lie, and Lena falls for it hook, line, and sinker. “I don’t know much, but I’ll tell you this. Jordan—that’s Mr. Veridan’s assistant—was in an absolute tizzy this morning. He was completely freaking out.”

I keep my expression neutral, but inside, I’m dancing for joy. It sounds like I’ve got a lead. I’ll bet Jordan knows more than he’s letting on if he’s freaking out like this.

“Mr. Brannagan was pretty angry too. I think he worries Brannagan Enterprises might be facing backlash for this just as much as Veridex.”

Lena nods. “It’s a mess. Maybe we can arrange for Mr. Brannagan and Mr. Donovan to have a meeting this afternoon to discuss things.”

I smile. “That would be great, but Mr. Brannagan is busy with another client all afternoon. I’ll have Mr. Brannagan email your boss and we can reschedule later,” I offer.

Lena frowns. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ve got to get back to the office,” I lie, grabbing my purse. Just then, the elevator dings and I see Miles Donovan getting off.

“I’d better be going,” I say, taking off around another corner. I wait until Miles and Lena head into his office together before taking off down the hall. Now I know I’m looking for Mark’s assistant, someone named Jordan.

I scan the office nameplates and seeJordan Powelloutside a door. It’s just one office down from Mark’s so I know I’m at the right place.

I hesitate only for a second before knocking on the door and stepping inside. Jordan glances up from his screen, looking like he hasn’t slept in days. His eyes are bloodshot, hair a frazzled mess.

“May I help you?” he asks, tone sharp.

I shut the door behind me, keeping my movements calm and deliberate. “I’m here on behalf of Rory Brannagan,” I say, voice even. “He sent me to check on the data breach. It’s a major security concern, and we’re worried Mr. Veridan has his hands full after the…” I lower my voice. “The incident a few weeks back.”

Jordan’s eyes narrow slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I give him a knowing look. “Come on, Jordan. You’re Mark Veridan’s assistant. If anyone in this building knows what’s really going on, it’s you.”

He exhales sharply, leaning back in his chair. “Even if I did know anything, I shouldn’t be talking to you about it.”