Under the Microscope Read Online Free PDF

didn’t soften, she let out a small defeated sigh. “What will it take to get you onboard? Do you want me to apologizeagain? Double your hourly rate? Get down on my knees and beg?” She would do it if she had to, for the sake of the company she’d built from nothing. For the sake of her future. Her employees’ futures.
    A heavy weight settled on her shoulders, feeling like each of the dreams she let herself imagine late at night.
    He stared at her for a long moment, giving nothing away. Then he gestured with his fork. “Leave your info. I’ll have a look at it and talk to William. Call the office in the morning and set up a real appointment. I’ll let you know then.”
    Instead of relief, Raine felt a new layer of tension settle. “Let me know what?”
    “Whether we’ll take the case or not.” He sent her a hard look. “And if we do, it won’t be because of Boston, apology or not.”
    A faint chill skittered across her skin, warning her that the agreeable Max Vasek she’d known before might not be the only side of him.
    She’d known she would have to work to get past his initial resistance. Now, she reevaluated, and came up thinking that she might never get past it. She could only hope they’d manage to work together in a sort of armed truce.
    She nodded slowly. “I understand.” She turned toward the door, only then realizing that she could see her breath. The apartment was bitter cold. Another sign that Max’s finances were in trouble?
    She turned back and confessed, “I can’t pay a retainer. That’s why the others wouldn’t take the case.”
    He shrugged, expression shuttered. “If we take the case, William and I will keep track of our hours and expenses, and you can pay us when it’s over.” Now his eyes focused on her. “Can I trust that you won’t run away from the debt?”
    She wasn’t sure if the faint mockery in his tone was directed at her or himself, but she knew she wasn’t going to find a better deal elsewhere. If Thriller went back on the market, it would take months—maybe longer—for sales to rebound, but they would rebound. Then she’d be solvent and able to pay. If Thriller wound up banned from the market…
    Hell, she’d probably have to sell off the rest of the Rainey Days drug portfolio to settle her debts. She’d find the money one way or the other, except that one way, she’d be a success.
    The other, a failure.
    She swallowed hard, told herself this was what she’d come to New York to achieve, and nodded. “It’s a deal.”
    He dug his fork into the carton and turned his back on her. “Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    His message was clear. He would consider working with her for both their benefits, but that didn’t mean she was forgiven.
     
    WHEN THE TAP OF HER HEELS receded in the hallway outside his apartment, Max dropped the carton of fried rice onto the counter and scrubbed both hands across his face.
    Well. Raine Montgomery.
    Damn it, he hadn’t expected ever to see her again. Hadn’t expected to want her if he did. He knew better. But that didn’t change the fact that his head was jammed with the sight and scent of her, that her husky voice sounded in his ears the way it had before, tempting him, challenging him.
    She’s no different than Charlotte, he reminded himself. A professional damsel in distress.
    Lucky for him, he knew better. He’d been vaccinated against DIDS.
    Twice.
    He grabbed the phone and punched in William’s number, trying to believe his friend had a reason for giving out his home info.
    The two men had known each other at Boston General, where the ex-FBI agent had worked for Hospitals for Humanity, a part-humanitarian, part-undercover investigative group with branches at hospitals across the U.S. When the men had foundthemselves needing a change at about the same time, they’d gone into business and Vasek and Caine Investigations was born.
    It might die tonight, Max thought as the phone rang. When William answered, Max