Deception

“Ms. Powers,” he stood abruptly. “I resent the implication.”

“Resent whatever you want, Al. You’re through! And if I have anything to do with it, the only things you’re ever going to add up again are cash-register receipts,” she spat. “Now get out of my sight and out of my office.”

Al Pierce gathered up his belongings. “If you think that I’m your only problem, then you have more of a problem than you can imagine.” He threw a cursory glance in Stacy’s direction and stalked out the door.

“What was that supposed to mean?” Stacy asked.

“I really don’t know. More than likely it was an idle comment.” But silently she wondered if it were that simple. She inhaled deeply. “Now for round two,” she said, her tone morose. “I think it would be best if I handled this one alone.” She crossed her arms with resolve.

“Are you sure?”

Terri nodded gloomily. “If I need you for anything, I’ll send Andrea for you.”

Stacy rose reluctantly and slowly approached Terri, who stood as if cast in stone. “Listen,” she began softly, “it all looks real bleak right now. But everything is going to work out.”

“Sure,” she whispered. “On your way out tell Andrea she can buzz Mark now.”

They stood facing each other like two gladiators waiting for the signal to attack.

“I’ve had the misfortune of going over your records,” Terri began, pacing her words evenly. “It’s amazing how yours are so different from mine,” she added with sarcasm. “You’ve tried to destroy me,” she said, her voice edged in granite. “No wonder you were so hell-bent on sealing the contract with Hightower. You needed the money to cover up what you’d done before I found out.”

“You brought it on yourself,” he tossed back in a malevolent tone that chilled her.

“What? You—with the help of Al Pierce—systematically set out to ruin this company. A company that I put together.” She counted off his misdeeds on her fingers. “You sabotaged contracts, made us lose potential deals, lined your own pockets and God knows what else. Then you have the gall to stand there and tell me that I brought it on myself! Do you hate me so much that you’d risk ruining this company and me as well as your own name in this industry?”

“Yes!” he shouted. “You’ll never know how much. You with your holier-than-thou attitude. The woman who could do no wrong. This is no more than what you deserve. I was the one left with the crumbs of your success.”

“Crumbs!” Her indignation came full circle. “You’ve always been a part of the success, Mark.”

He chuckled. “But it was always Terri this and Terri that,” he mimicked in a singsong voice. His face twisted into an ugly mask. “Terri Powers received the accolades, her name in the papers—not me.” He jabbed a finger at his chest, glowering at her.

“So that’s what it all boils down to, does it? You can’t stomach working with a woman who has made it.”

He looked away, clenching his jaw. “You’re not a woman. If you were, you could’ve kept your husband and your baby!”

His personal attack stabbed her. She fought for control as nausea threatened to overtake her. “Not the kind of woman you expected me to be,” she said smoothly, camouflaging her hurt. “I want you out of here within the hour. Security will oversee your departure.” She turned her back to him, her spine rigid.

Mark tossed her a hate-filled stare. “You’ve had your time to shine. I’ll guarantee you that I’ll have mine, as well.” He turned toward the door then stopped. “I was willing to risk anything to make you know how it feels to be forgotten. Now that you know everything,” he paused, “you won’t ever forget me again.” He stormed out of the office, leaving the door swinging on its hinges.

For several moments Terri stood in the tension-filled silence that permeated the air. Finally she let out a breath that she didn’t realize she’d held, and a tremor raced through her. She lowered her head, feeling weak and beaten.

She’d always prided herself on being fair to everyone. Or at least she’d thought so. How could she have not seen what was happening to Mark? She’d been so wrapped up in her own personal problems over the past months that she’d been blind to what was going on, allowing Mark free rein with the company. He’d used that trust against her.

His painful words rushed back at her, and her resentment and hurt resurfaced. No one could ever begin to imagine the pain and worthlessness that she’d felt. She’d shared her private hell with no one, and she wasn’t sure if she ever could.

But she could not let it immobilize her. She forced her body to move, her mind to work. She still had work to do. It was time that she reclaimed control of her life, for better or worse.

Snatching her coat from the rack and putting her purse under her arm, she walked purposefully out of the office, stopping briefly at Andrea’s desk.

“I’ll be away from the office for the balance of the day. Any problems, call Stacy. She’ll know what to do. Oh, and security will be escorting Mr. Andrews out of the building.”

“Yes, Ms. Powers.”

Terri stood in front of the elevator, her face resolute, her spirit determined. Her next stop was the offices of Hightower Enterprises.

Chapter 6

Clint had just hung up the phone when his secretary buzzed him on the intercom.

“Yes, Pat?”

“Mr. Steele, there’s a Ms. Powers here to see you.”

Clint’s heart stirred with excitement. “Send her right in.”

Quickly he stood up and put on his navy blue blazer and straightened his blue paisley tie. He approached the door just as Terri entered.

His full lips curved into an unconscious smile and widened in silent approval as he took in her regal, dark beauty. Her hair was swept away from her face, held in place by a wide headband, highlighting those large earthy brown eyes. The winter-white cashmere coat was flung open, revealing the flowing dress that gently brushed her curves.

He ached to take her in his arms, but his smile slowly dissolved when he saw the shadow of despair hovering in her eyes.

Immediately he crossed the room to where she stood, ready to do battle with whoever had crossed her.

“Terri, what is it?”

She took a deep breath. “May I sit down?”

“Sure.” He pulled up a high-back chair for her, one for himself and sat down in front of her, his arms braced on his muscled thighs as he leaned forward.

She looked across at him, hesitant at first, but then decided to plunge right in. “I fired Mark today, along with the accountant,” she said in a monotone.

Briefly Clint lowered his head, nodding in a way that let her know he understood. He looked up, his gaze holding hers. “I’ve had to fire my share of employees over the years, and it’s never easy, especially under these circumstances. You not only feel guilt, you feel betrayed,” he added softly.

Terri felt the weight slowly ease from her chest. She didn’t realize until that moment how much she needed him to understand and not see her as weak and ineffectual.

“I take it Mark was the man behind-the-scenes all along?”

Terri nodded, a feeling of humiliation whipping through her, but her face remained resolute.

Clint easily saw through the facade of control. Once again he felt the overpowering need to take her in his arms, to protect her. But he sensed that wasn’t what she needed or would accept. At least not now. That was one thing he was gradually learning about her—she did things in her own way, in her own time, without fanfare.

“Is there anything that I can do?”

She looked across at him, a weak smile tugging at her polished lips. “You could accept my apology.”

His thick brows knitted. “Apology? For what?”

“For misjudging you. For doubting your sincerity. It’s not like me to doubt people.”