Source One

Matt monitor his business.
    “I can keep an eye on things for your family too.”
    Five minutes later, Brian had given Matt Amber’s name, along with Katie’s, his mother’s and Mrs. Quinn’s.
    ***
    Michelle was sitting in Brian’s office. “Is that all?” she asked.
    “One more thing,” Brian said.
    He pressed his lips together. “From now on, you can pass me the forms for background checks on new hires. I have someone who’s going to take care of it.”
    Brian had promised Amber he wouldn’t tell Michelle he knew how Amber had been hired. He had kept that and their relationship private from Michelle and everyone in the office.
    What Michelle had done - i t had all worked out in Amber’s case. But that didn’t mean Brian wanted it to happen again.
    Michelle’s brow raised. “Of course.” She gave Brian a small smile before she exited his office.
    Brian called Jim into his office a few minutes later.  With only a couple of short breaks for meals and a phone call home, the two spent the rest of the afternoon, evening and night working together.
    “Brian?” Amber’s voice was coated with sleep when Brian walked into his bedroom in the early morning.
    “Go back to sleep, sweetheart.”
    “What time is it?”
    “A little after four.”
    Amber sat up in bed. She turned on the bedside lamp and squinted at the sudden brightness. “Another late night, huh?”
    It was Brian’s second almost all-nighter this week.
    Brian nodded. “Jim was still there when I left. But we’re really close.”
    Brian had recently given Jim a stake in the company.
    The smartphone company Source One contracted with had a new phone coming out in the fall. Source One’s code would offer a faster generation of wi-fi and was the biggest feature of the new model.
    Amber gave Brian a sleepy smile. “That’s great.”

CHAPTER 16
     
    Amber sat outdoors having lunch with Michelle.
    It was early April.
    “How’re you doing?” Michelle asked.
    Amber smiled. “I’m doing well. I’ve been seeing someone.”
    “You have?”
    Amber nodded. “You won’t believe who it is.”
    Michelle raised her brow. “Who?”
    “ It’s Brian.”
    “Brian Nichols?”
    Amber nodded.
    Michelle took a deep breath and speared a piece of lettuce with her fork. “Wow. How did that happen?”
    Amber frowned at Michelle’s tone. “We ran into each other at a store in January. Katie had gotten separated from him, and I was trying to help her.”
    Michelle was fiddling with her fork.
    “Michelle, is something wrong?”
    Michelle looked at Amber and shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
    Amber blinked. “I won’t…….I’d never have known it when I worked for him, but he’s a good guy.”
    She grinned. “I guess I should have listened to you.”
    ***
    The next week, Amber’s mother’s house officially went on the market. There would be an open house that weekend.
    It had been an emotional week, and Brian had sent her flowers at work.
    “Who are these from? A boyfriend?”
    Amber startled at Mr. Sumner’s voice. She looked up and gave him a small smile. “Yes.”
    “What’s his name?”
    Amber swallowed. “Believe it or not, it’s Brian. Brian Nichols.”
    Mr. Sumner’s brow raised. “Brian Nichols?”
    Amber nodded slowly.
    Mr. Sumner’s mouth pressed into a line. “I thought you couldn’t wait to get away from him.”
    Amber gripped the edge of her desk. This had gotten awkward quickly.
    “I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that you signed a non-disclosure agreement, Amber.”
    Amber blinked up at him. “I know. And I always honor it.”
    Mr. Sumner closed his eyes for a moment. Opened them again. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry. Your private life is entirely your own business.”
    Amber nodded. She forced a smile.
    That night, Amber told Brian about Mr. Sumner’s reaction to the flowers.
    Brian stood shaking his head. “I don’t want you working for him anymore.”
    Amber took a breath. “What exactly happened between the two of you, Brian?”
    The muscle in Brian’s jaw clenched. He stuck his hands in his pockets as he began to pace. “I was the one doing all the work in our venture. I could have lived with that, I guess. But he was always trying to rush our code out. Trying to sell it before it was ready.”
    Brian stopped pacing. “And it was what he was promising the customers. Things I wasn’t sure we could deliver.”
    He exhaled a breath. “When