Much More Than a Mistress Read Online Free PDF Page A

in the room.
    â€œFirst off, I’d like to make it clear that none of us are happy about the need to investigate our colleague,” Mr. Blair said. “Your boss has assured me that this will be handled with the utmost care.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” she said, hoping they didn’t hear the quiver in her voice.
    Mr. Blair leaned forward in his seat, folding his hands atop his desk. “He told me that the plan is for you to get to know Mr. Everette on a more… personal level. To be honest, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”
    Okay. Well, that was very…direct. She had barely begun the investigation and already they were unhappy.
    She was so completely screwed.
    She squared her shoulders and tried to sound as ifshe knew what she was talking about. “If Mr. Everette is involved in a conspiracy, chances are slim he would be foolish enough to keep any incriminating evidence at work. More than likely I’ll need access to his home.”
    â€œAnd you’ll do that how?” Mr. Suarez asked. He didn’t outwardly suggest impropriety, but the implication was there. She tried not to take it personally. Actually, she felt sort of sorry for them. They were clearly distressed by what they had to do.
    â€œIt’s against agency policy to engage in activity that is illegal or unethical,” she told him.
    Mr. Everette rubbed his forehead, looking pained. “I don’t like it.”
    â€œTwo weeks ago you and Jordan weren’t on speaking terms,” Mr. Suarez said.
    Mr. Everette shot him a look. “It just seems so…underhanded. That doesn’t bother you?”
    â€œOf course it bothers me. And if it were one of my brothers being investigated I would probably be just as hesitant. But, Nathan, we don’t have a choice. We need to know, and we agreed this was the best way to handle the situation.”
    â€œYou all seem to respect Mr. Everette,” she said. “Why is it that you think he could have been the saboteur?”
    â€œAs you probably already know, a week before the explosion someone wired two hundred thousand dollars into Jordan’s account, and a few days later he wired thirty thousand dollars out. But we don’t know where the money came from, or who it went to.”
    â€œSo you think that someone paid him, and he paid someone else to tamper with the equipment.”
    â€œThat’s one possibility,” Adam said.
    â€œWhy? I’ve seen his financials. He’s not hurting for money.”
    â€œJordan is ambitious,” Adam said. “This happened before everyone learned the CEO position was opening up. Maybe he felt he’d hit a ceiling. Maybe someone made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, but expected something in return first.”
    â€œAnd you believe he would put people’s lives in danger to further his career?” she asked.
    â€œMaybe no one was meant to get hurt, but something went wrong,” Emilio suggested.
    â€œIf you’re right, and he got a better offer, why is he still here?”
    â€œTo avoid suspicion? Or maybe now that the CEO position is opening up, he has a reason to stay.”
    â€œOr maybe,” Emilio offered, “since there were injuries, it killed the deal.”
    All plausible scenarios. Especially if he was as ambitious as they all seemed to believe.
    â€œThat’s what we need you to find out,” Mr. Blair said, looking to Mr Everette. “And either we’re all in, or this stops today.”
    Jane held her breath. Would her first undercover assignment be over before it started? If she blew this on the very first day, would her boss blame her? They might never give her another chance to work undercover. She needed to take the bull by the horns.
    â€œMr. Everette,” she said, reaching out to touch his arm, hoping he couldn’t sense her desperation. “I have three siblings myself, so I understand how difficult this