CHAPTER 52
The moment Logan Thames stepped out of the car with a smug look plastered on his face, the security team at Valdez Company became alert. He was quickly stopped at the gate and delayed slightly while James informed Jason of his presence. Everyone knew there was bad blood between them, and Logan walking into their premises wasn't seen as a friendly visit. If anything, there wasn't anything friendly in his approach. Logan deliberately chose the meanest of his men for his security detail. A man dressed in a pink shirt and blue trousers followed them with big rimmed glasses, looking sheepishly at everyone. While the men were being searched, Logan stated his mission and threatened that any delay would cost their boss millions. James was quick to patch this through to Jason. It was up to him to let them in.
Sam scoured the men thoroughly then whispered to James through the ear pod that the men came unarmed. James then passed the information to their boss.
"He came with who again?" Jason asked James, who stood at his desk. His right hand was buried deep in his pocket. He pressed the ear pod and listened to Sam filling him in on the current situation. Even though the search was done, the man was to be held down for any reason. Unless Jason wanted to see him and gave the order, Logan should stay blocked from entering into the office. When James informed Jason of the two muscles Logan, with, he asked them to be restrained, but the other man should be let in.
"Don't let his men in. Just him." James said to the man on the other end. Then looking at Jason, he replied, "He came with his two security which we are holding down. There's another man, though. He is on glasses, looks like a nerd. I'm guessing he's the computer guy."
The way he said 'computer guy' made Jason smile. It was apparent James didn't see any relevance in being a 'computer Guy'. They had argued that over the years while growing up, most times. James would be angry because Jason focused more on his computer than him whenever he had something important to complain about. Jason as a boy, was always bent on his laptop, either fixing something or learning new tricks. It pissed James off. One day he had busted out angrily, "What do you always bend over this thing for?"
Jason had turned to look at him, amused. "It solves all my problems." He had shrugged it off and continued.
"Really?" James wasn't amused, "So, I'm here telling you about my father going on about my mom. He's deliberately an asshole on a killing rampage, and that" he pointed at the laptop, "That will provide the answer I need." He scoffed.
"Not exactly." Jason replied, still bent over the laptop. He fixed what he needed to be done on the computer and stretched. Standing up, he looked at his newfound friend. The boy was a mess. His hair was unshaved, and he looked like he hadn't eaten. He let that slide while he looked around for what to give him. "It could be what you need to take off your mind." He told his friend, but before James could reply with another smart response, he asked about his father. "Did you say your dad is killing people?"
"Yes." He replied, sliding in the chair beside Jason, "He thinks my mother was killed. He almost shot his colleague at work."
Jason sat up straight, "Wow." he exclaimed.
"Exactly." James slurred, "Mom died naturally. Why can't he just accept that?" noticing how the other boy kept looking around, he asked, "You looking for something?"
"Yeah. Not really." He replied, turning to his friend, then added, "Your dad has always been cool-headed. He must have been hurting."
"So is everyone."
"Adults. I'll never understand them." he smiled at his friend, "Which is why I still think this computer is more fun. I can understand every bit of it."
"Nah. There's nothing understandable about that." James refused to accept that.
He finally found the pizza box he had ordered earlier and stood up to retrieve it. When he brought it out and opened it, James went at it with enthusiasm. As they ate, Jason offered that him his laptop, "Want to try?"
After series of pleading, James moved closer to the laptop and tried his hands on it. He couldn't do anything reasonable for minutes, and he gave up. "See? Not for me." he said and stood up.
"You didn't even try." Jason told him. They swapped positions, and he went to work. He was soon lost in the computer work that he didn't James had left until hours later. The next time they saw, Jason was telling him about going to Ukraine to study.
"Let me guess." James had said sarcastically, "Coding." The ecstatic look on his face was what he needed to confirm his suspicions. "Look." he told Jason, "You're rich. You can have anything you want. Which is why I'm asking, why travel to Ukraine to learn when you can have Ukraine here?"
Jason looked at him. Confused, he told him plainly "I don't get you."
"Do you want a repeat of your school episodes that you told me about?"
"No." He said with so much vehemence that James laughed.
"Then, have tutors coach you here. You have an empire to run as it is."
"That could work." He agreed, and that was precisely what he did. It had been James who advised him to get trained right here in Miami by the world best. All he did was travel to write his examinations which could be done at home, but he chose to go. It was a way of seeing the world. However, even though James gave him the smart idea, he never liked the computer. And he didn't hesitate to voice it either. Each time he walked on their classes, he'd snicker and grumble all through. Most times, he simply turned back. Jason learned to accept him just the way he is. Which was why even now, he didn't let that look on his face bother him.
"Let them in." Jason said, leaving his seat. He went to sit in the conference room centered in the middle of his office. He mostly held his meetings there. The place was wide enough to keep them apart while providing him ample view of the other man. There, Logan could state his mission while he monitors his every move.
As the secretary walked the two men in, Jason nodded grimly to Logan while fixing his gaze on the other guy. James had been right; he was the computer guy. Anders, Was it? He had walked with the guy a little back then when they had that project. But Key had been the one who hit it off with the guy more.
Key was the Valdez' computer hacker. Though his real name is Dylan, he had been nicknamed Key because he was so good at logging into any system or account, undetected. He was known for unlocking the most complex virus code. He could untangle a long list of codes in seconds. He was that good and loyal too.
Key had stayed with him through thick and thin. He protected the company's information so well he was often teased for always backing up his file every day before going home and building strong firework to protect the files. He had never once divulged any company's information. Key was that loyal. But he could bet the man wasn't loyal about Anders. He was always happy to meet nerds like himself. Though he knew Jason wasn't on good terms with Logan since the incident, he was sure key and Anders communicated back and forth.
If Anderson was here, Jason had a feeling he would need his computer analyst too. From all indications, this visit was official, not personal. He could say that. It wasn't like they had anything to discuss about. Evangeline? Nah! Logan would have some balls to walk into his lair and raise that issue. Every time they had both met at Evan's, the result wasn't ever a friendly atmosphere. This looked calm enough. Anderson already had his laptop out and was fumbling with some things on it.
He offered them the seats opposite him. This placed the men farther from him but closer to the CCTV, which monitored everything Anderson was doing on the screen. Just in case Logan wanted him doing something crazy.
When the men were seated, the secretary who had been standing close by asked what they wanted, and Logan asked for coffee, creamy, while the nerd asked for tea instead.
"Add honey, no sugar for me please." He said.
Jason smiled at him, "Anders?"
"Yes. I am... Sure. You remembered." He stuttered.
While the man blushed, Jason replied gruffly, trying to shake the man a little. It was fun watching him stutter. Logan steamed silently beside Anderson, obviously irritated. "I do. You left an impression." Turning to James, he whispered that Key be brought in. His presence would be needed. James nodded and went to another corner of the room to badge the order.
The secretary walked in with their tea and coffee, served the men, including Jason. She knew already what he'd want. Once done serving the drinks, she excused herself just as Key walked in. The instant he saw Anderson, his face brightened. Logan looked from one to the other as the two men literally face-greeted each other, ogling each other in such an irritating way. Sighing, he boomed, "Guys? Really?"
The men giggled like primary school girls, and Key settled in the chair opposite Anderson with a proud beam. "Fancy running into you again like this." he greeted, then said, "Mr. Thames." as a formal greeting of the man sitting stoically on the other side.
"Hello." Logan greeted. He smirked, then turned to Jason. "Now, can we get down to business. I have something that will interest you." He said with a grin.
