never going to talk to each other again.
âYou can collect your wages for the last couple of days from Reception.â
Dani made for the nearest café and ordered the biggest blackest coffee they made. She closed her eyes. The money she had would last less than a week. Her whole aim had been to work while she hunted because she hadnât wanted to wait any longer before trying to find him. But she had to be able to eatâto pay for her accommodation, and to pay for the search. How on earth was she going to find Eli now? How was she going to keep the promise sheâd made to her mum?
It had been her final requestâsheâd given up that precious secret only in her last few days and it was the one last thing Dani could do for her. Dani wanted to honour that promise more than she wanted to do anything. And if she found him, it would be like having a part of her mother back.
She called a different agency. Then another. But once sheâd told them the kind of work she wanted, then told them her name, the âour books are fullâ line got handed to her. Was shegoing to have to move cities to get another job? She didnât even have the bus fare, and the best finance jobs for her were here. Or they had been. Now she was screwed.
Her anger fired even higher. What about Alex Carlisle? What about his misconduct? Had he been given a âwarningââshe bet there was no way heâd have got the sack. Oh, noâheâd just ensured he had a peaceful work environment again. She wasnât around to embarrass him anymore.
There was one person responsible for this. One person who owed her. One person who was going to pay.
Alex Carlisle was getting the bill.
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âKelly, I need you.â Alex called his PA into his office. âThe temp who was working on the Huntsman project last weekââ He broke off. His super-efficient PA had a touch more colour to her cheeks than usual. But her brows lifted as if she were vaguely mystified.
As if.
âTemp?â
âYes. Short, brunette bob.â Alex winced, hating to have to reveal that he didnât know her name. He watched Kellyâs lips purse and sighed, frustrated. âYouâve seen the clip, havenât you?â Now he felt his cheeks heating.
Kelly dropped the âno ideaâ look and nodded. âYes. She no longer works here.â
âHow come sheâs no longer working here? That project is months off completion.â Alex found he couldnât meet Kellyâs eyes. Hell, what a mess. Heâd never compromised himself at work like this. Socially for sureâhe liked to play. But not at work. Kelly had worked for this company for more years than heâd been alive. Sheâd worked with Samuel, and his father before him. A Carlisle loyalist. There was nothing in thebusiness that she didnât know. Alex remembered her giving him paper as a kid to entertain him while he waited for Samuel and him making darts to shoot at people walking past. The severe look she was giving him now wasnât so different from the one sheâd given him then.
âI know,â Kelly said quietly. âBut thereâs a new temp now.â
Alex looked at her then, hearing the soberness in her voice. He didnât like the censure in her eyes, either. âI think youâd better send Jo to see me.â
Kelly disappeared and Jo, the head of HR, was knocking at his door in less than a minute. Alex walked over to meet her. âThe temp that we had working on the Huntsman project last weekâwhere is she?â
Jo looked distinctly uncomfortable. âThe temp?â
âYes,â he growled. âYou know the one I mean.â
âYes.â Of course she did. âHer services were no longer required.â
âBut thereâs a new temp out there now.â Heâd walked through the floor as soon as heâd got in, run the gauntlet of knowing looks and smiles only