Better Together Page 10

  His mouth twitched, and he laughed.

  “Yeah, you’re very funny.” Tallulah left the room and slammed the door, growling with frustration as she realised her professionalism had hit a personal low.

  ~ ~ ~

  Tallulah’s energy still vibrated in the room. He realised he was aroused and shifted uncomfortably. It wasn’t as though she was obviously sexy. She’d been a cute, pissed-off fairy. Why the hell does that turn me on? he wondered.

  He needed to get a grip. He couldn’t even remember why he’d called her in. She’d looked so fierce when she’d shouted at him. He’d never seen her lose her zen-like calm before. Her clothes made her look like a flaky hippie, but there was nothing flaky about her personality.

  He’d liked seeing Tallulah lose her temper over the drippy accounts woman. That woman was someone who, he believed, needed to get a backbone. He sat back down behind his desk. Maybe I’ll talk to Human Resources and get her sent on some assertiveness course. That’ll show Tallulah I’ve got people skills.

  He returned to the financial details he’d been looking at earlier. He had all the files and just needed to go through them with a fine-toothed comb to see if he could find the anomalies. He decided to start on the materials accounts.

  “Tallulah?” He assumed she’d calmed down by now.

  She pushed open the door and snapped at him. “I’m not a dog.”

  “What?”

  “You sound like you’re calling a dog.”

  He shook his head. He had no idea what she was talking about, but realised she was still in a bad mood.

  “What did you want?”

  He asked her to print out the costings and the invoices for consumables on two of the completed developments.

  “Okay.” She turned to leave.

  “Tallulah?”

  “Yes, sir?” She heaved an impatient sigh.

  He gritted his teeth. If she called him ‘sir’ again, he’d have to take measures.

  “Are you trying to annoy me?” That wasn’t what he’d meant to say.

  She stuck her nose in the air. It was a perfect nose for conveying haughtiness; short, straight . . .

  “Of course not, sir.”

  He got up from his desk and stalked round it.

  She took a step back.

  He lowered his head until his mouth was beside her ear. “Don’t call me sir.”

  She folded her arms, unimpressed. “Don’t behave like a sir, then.”

  He sighed and straightened. What he wanted to do was to kiss her. Kiss her until all the bad temper disappeared, but that was obviously not an option. Visions of a sexual harassment suit drifted through his mind, and he shook his head to clear it of the inappropriate images. “What are you still doing here?”

  “In your office?”

  “No. In the company. I thought you liked to do short contracts—no more than a month. You’ve been here for more than six weeks now. Do you plan to stay?”

  She smiled. “You bet. They’re paying me twice my normal rate.”

  “Why?”

  “Danger money. You’ve a reputation for being difficult to work for.” She gave him a superior smile and flounced out of the office before he could think of a reply.

  He stared at the closed door. Difficult? Me?

  What rubbish. He worked fine with his own company. No one there thought he was difficult. Did they? He’d have to remember to ask Loretta.

  ~ ~ ~

  Tallulah sat down at her workstation and rubbed her hands over her face. Her pulse still raced at twice its normal speed. Should I have told him about the bribe? It was seriously unprofessional, but she didn’t care. He had been annoying; he had the face of a fallen angel, but he was definitely annoying. She hadn’t been able to stop herself. The look on his face had been priceless, although probably not worth losing her job for. He doesn’t seem the sort of boss who’d sack me for anything less than incompetence. I hope.

  When he’d come from behind his desk, she’d had a twinge of alarm, and when he’d whispered in her ear, her unease had grown. Not because she thought she’d be sacked, but because she thought he was about to kiss her. His breath on her earlobe had sent a wave of warmth through her whole body.

  He hadn’t kissed her, of course; it was just wishful thinking on her part. She forced herself to concentrate on the afternoon’s work.

  At five o’clock, his door opened. “I’m off now,” he said. “Today’s lasted long enough, and I’ve got to talk to my father this evening.” He paused in the doorway between the offices, his jacket dangling from one finger. “I don’t suppose you’d like a quick drink before tackling the journey home?”

  Tallulah’s head jerked up, and she stared at him. “Drink?”

  “Yes. Alcoholic for me. In a bar.”

  Tallulah was tempted. He stood in her doorway, his hair rumpled and his mouth curling into a smile. She pulled her gaze from his and reminded herself that he was annoying. “I can’t. I’ve too much work, and I’m going out tonight. Sorry.”

  His smile faded. “Another time.” He gave her a careless wave and disappeared.

  “Damn.” Tallulah sat back and stared at the door. Her heart rate was definitely up again. And now I’m going to have to work late just so I won’t be guilty of telling a lie. She stood up, stretched, and went to the coffee machine, pouring the last bitter dregs from the pot into her mug. At least he’s not going to sack me.

  Chapter 11

  Aiden scowled at the financial spreadsheets. He’d been staring at them too long. I’m bored out of my skull, he thought. Thank God it’s Friday. He closed the file and leaned back in his chair. It was ten thirty. He could go and collect the keys to his new apartment. He’d meant to move in for the last week, but with his father’s extended stay in hospital and the trouble with Davy Tollington-Rees, he hadn’t got around to it.

  He stood up, stretched, and pushed open the door to the outer office. Tallulah appeared to be absorbed in what she was doing, and he studied the top of her blonde head for a moment before she looked up.

  “Sorry. I didn’t see you there. Did you need something?”

  “I’m going to sort the flat out. I’ll just get some coffee first.” He headed for the pot in the corner.

  “I can bring it through to you.” She jumped up from behind her desk, the full, flared skirt of her orange dress swirling around her legs.

  “I can—”

  She interrupted him. “Besides, that pot’s been heating since eight o’clock. I’ll make a new one.”

  “It’s okay.” Aiden picked the pot up. “I’m perfectly capable of making a pot of coffee.”

  “It’s my job,” Tallulah muttered, but she sat down again. At least she’d stopped calling him ‘sir.’

  “I’m getting cabin fever.” Aiden measured out the coffee.

  “What are you working on?” Tallulah asked. “Is it anything I can help with?”

  Aiden stared at her. At least she’s stopped glaring at me.

  Maybe she could help. He couldn’t think of anyone else. He didn’t know the juniors well enough to be able to tell whether they would gossip, and he knew the seniors well enough to be unsure of their integrity. It was highly unlikely Tallulah would have anything to do with financial irregularities. She hadn’t been around the company long enough to commit a crime, and she wasn’t a gossip; she was the opposite if anything. He definitely needed someone; the routine work kept him occupied long past the end of a normal working day, and he’d barely made any inroad into the accounts. “Can you be discrete?”

  “Of course I can. No one would employ me a second time if I spread confidential information around.” She swivelled her chair around so she faced him.

  The coffee started to percolate, and he took
milk from the small fridge. “Do you want some?” He picked up the mug from her desk before she could answer.

  “What do you want me to keep quiet about?”

  “I’m combing through the financial records looking for things that don’t add up. My father thinks someone’s been less than honest.” He watched the slow drip of dark liquid through the coffee filter.

  “What do you mean?” Tallulah leaned forward, her eyes sparking with interest. She didn’t look as though the prospect of criminal activity surprised her. “Something shady? Does he have anyone in particular in mind?”

  “If he did, he didn’t share it with me,” Aiden said. “All he told me was that the company’s financial position was not as healthy as it should be based on project costings and projections. He thought there was a cash leak somewhere.”

  “White collar crime?” Tallulah almost bounced with excitement. “Embezzlement?”

  “It’s not a good thing.” He stared at her reprovingly, wondering if she was as bored as he was.

  “Sorry.” She bit her lip. “I probably read too many crime novels.”

  “Where the investigator ends up dead in a puddle of his own blood?” Aiden raised an eyebrow.

  She laughed. “I hope not. It’s just that it would be exciting to track down a criminal.”

  “Exciting’s not the word I’d use,” Aiden said. “Especially as it involves checking columns of numbers until my eyes cross, and if we do find a problem, it’ll probably involve one of my father’s trusted friends.”

  “You should go out and ask questions.” Tallulah ignored his concerns. “You’d make a good interrogator.”

  “Me? Why?” Aiden couldn’t help smiling at the ridiculous idea. “Steely eyes? Nerves of iron?”

  “Nah. You can make people cry.”

  “Anyway,” Aiden continued, “I’m spending most of my time looking at figures. That’s why I keep asking you to get the files for me. Do you think you’d be able to spot anything that doesn’t add up?”

  Tallulah nodded. “I’ve worked in accounts departments before. I know how these things work. I could go through some if you like?”

  “It’s pretty boring,” Aiden warned her.

  “Most paperwork’s boring.” Tallulah accepted the mug he handed her and sipped at the coffee. “You’re right. You can make coffee.”

  He tasted his own. “Could you stay a bit later than usual tonight, and I’ll show you what I’ve been doing?”

  “I can’t manage tonight.” She chewed at her lower lip. “It’s Friday. I’m going out.”

  “Fine.” He wondered where she was going and with whom, but managed not to ask. “What about Monday?” He could see the thought processes going through her mind. “I’ll make sure you’re paid overtime. Based on your inflated danger money, of course.”

  She grinned. “You can’t shame me into turning it down. Money is good when you don’t have any. I accept. Time and a half after seven?”

  “Done. You’re so mercenary.” He drained his cup and lifted his bag. “I’ll see you later. I’m going to sort out my flat.”

  “Mercenary? I’m a good negotiator,” Tallulah said. “Is that all your luggage?”

  “I don’t need much. I’ll get the rest of my stuff when I visit my father.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “Looks awful, but his medical team seem pleased.” Aiden slung the bag over his shoulder and headed for the door. “I’ll be back late this afternoon. I’m visiting the new development after lunch. I’ve a meeting with the construction team if anyone asks.”

  ~ ~ ~

  After he’d gone, Tallulah drained her coffee cup and set it aside. She’d talked to Aiden as though he was a friend again. Why do I do it? How do I just forget he’s my boss? She thought about his drink invitation the previous evening and enumerated the reasons it was a bad idea.

  First, he’s my boss. I know he was looking at me with more than professional interest, but that doesn’t mean I have to do the same. Second, I’ve got better uses for my time than drooling over cute businessmen. I’ve a degree to work for. Third, men like him, from rich families, don’t have relationships with women like me. They use them. She rested her elbows on the desk, staring at the screen of her computer. Fourth, he’s out of my class. He’s gorgeous. I’d get attached. Fifth, I don’t do that at work. It’s unprofessional. Sixth, I… Her computer beeped, pulling her out of the introspection.

  She thought about writing the list down and sticking it to her computer monitor. She sniggered as she imagined Aiden reading it.

  Picking up her cup, she rinsed it before settling down at her desk again and forcing herself to concentrate. She finished most of her regular work by four o’clock and pulled up the list of the files she’d passed on to Aiden.

  How will we look for irregularities? There must be masses of ways to rip money from a company the size of this one, especially if you were an insider. She guessed that most senior people did it legally through things like the bonus system or share options. It was a pity she had planned to go out; she wanted to make a start on sleuthing.

  Aiden arrived back at five o’clock. He brought a couple of chocolate brownies with him and handed one to Tallulah. “Eat this before you go.”

  Tallulah bit the end of her brownie. It was rich and intense in flavour. “I need tea with it.” She filled the electric kettle and took a box of teabags out of the cupboard, raising an eyebrow at Aiden.

  “Me too.”

  They drank tea and ate their brownies in companionable silence.

  Why does he have to do things like bring me chocolate? If he kept himself in snappish mode, she’d have no problem viewing him as part of the office furniture.

  “Did the move go okay?” she asked as she swallowed the last crumbs and licked the chocolate from her fingers.

  Aiden’s glance lingered as she hastily wiped her mouth. “It was fine. Everything all right here?”

  “Very quiet.” Quiet was what she normally wanted from a job. No intellectual or emotional strain. She saved her resources for her art. “I’d better go. Do you need anything else? The files from the dodgy accounts are on your desk.”

  “Have you printed them all out?” Aiden asked.

  She nodded.

  “Okay. I’ll see you on Monday. Have a good weekend.”

  Chapter 12

  At four thirty on Monday afternoon, Aiden wandered into Tallulah’s office and leaned on the corner of her desk. “Do you want to make a start on those files?”

  She looked up. “Now?”

  “If you’ve finished the rest of your work.” He still hadn’t cut his hair and pushed it out of his eyes with the back of one hand. It flopped back again.

  “Okay.” Tallulah pulled open her desk drawer and lifted out a pile of thick plastic folders. “Here they are. All the ones you asked for.”

  Aiden took them from her and began to flick through them. He pulled a face. “I’m not looking forward to this at all. It could take months.”

  “I’m only here for a couple more weeks,” she said. “Less than that, actually. We’ll have to work fast.”

  “Mmm?” He squinted at a piece of paper as he pulled it loose from a folder. “We only need enough evidence to justify an external audit.”

  “Is that what we’re looking for?”

  “We’re looking for anything that doesn’t add up. Come on. We’ll work at my desk. We might be able to get through these in a week or so.” He sounded doubtful.

  Tallulah followed him through to his office and closed the door behind her. Aiden retreated behind his wide desk, and she pulled the chair in front of it closer. He handed her one of the folders.

  Two hours later, he dropped his stack of papers on the desk top with a thud.

&
nbsp; “Have you found anything?” Tallulah looked up.

  Aiden rose to his feet and stretched his arms above his head with a groan. “No. I’m starving. I can’t concentrate when I’m hungry. Do you want to go and get something to eat?”

  “What? And come back afterwards?” Tallulah was on a roll. “Why don’t I ring out for pizza? Then we can just carry on.”

  Aiden paced to the window and stretched again. “I need a break. Let’s go out and get that pizza. It’ll still count as overtime for you. You can take a file if it makes you feel better.”

  “You’ve the attention span of a goldfish.” Tallulah watched his shoulders roll under his perfectly tailored shirt. “I haven’t been out of the building since eight o’clock this morning, and I’m prepared to carry on.”

  “Come on and stop arguing.” Aiden ushered her out of his office, locking the door behind him.

  Tallulah’s stomach growled. It was eight o’clock, and she’d eaten nothing since twelve. She was a woman who liked regular meals. She silenced the small voice that told her she should just go home. “Where are we going?”

  “Did you say you wanted pizza?”

  “I wouldn’t turn it down.”

  “I remember there was a place down here.” Aiden turned into a small side street, almost a tunnel, with high walls, a mixture of modern and old. Halfway along was a sign for a pizzeria. “Good, it’s still around. I wasn’t sure.” He stood back to let Tallulah go into the restaurant ahead of him. Most of the closely packed tables were occupied.

  A waiter rushed forward. “Do you have a reservation?”

  When they said no, he glanced over the room before picking two menus out of a holder by the door. “Is this okay?” He pointed at a tiny table for two in the corner of the room.