Free Eye Of The Storm - DK3 by Melissa Good Page B

The words were spoken matter-of-fact. “You can’t deliver the services you sold them and they’re being left without any back up whatsoever.”
    “Now, you look—” Sam’s face darkened.
    “So either those clients were completely ignorant, or they were being quiet for a reason.” Kerry crossed her ankles. “I think you’d better level with me, Mr. Gershwin.”

    Eye of the Storm 41
    Hostility bristled across the desk at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Kerry shrugged. “You can say that. But I need to tell you we’re going to eventually find out what’s going on and what it was that woman was so afraid would get out.”
    Sam Gershwin went very still, as he studied her in silence. “You sure you want to do that, Ms. Stuart?” he finally asked. “If I were you, I’d just leave things alone. You’ll be a happier person for it, I promise you.”
    Kerry chewed the inside of her lip, wondering how far she should push. “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”
    He steepled his fingers. “Aren’t you? Perception is such a fluid thing, Ms. Stuart. I’m sure your company has a perception of you as a fine, upstanding woman, a credit to their reputation, don’t they?”
    A chill ran up Kerry’s spine. “Is that a relevant question?”
    “Well,” he stood up and strolled towards her, “it’s your job to use your judgment, isn’t it? To find a way to, oh, bring us in the fold, so to speak. They must think highly of your decision making skills, don’t they?”
    “Yes, they do.”
    Sam stopped and leaned against the wall next to her, his taller form throwing a shadow over her body. “Would it take much to change that?
    Say…what if they found out their fine, upstanding operations director…oh, got drunk and had to be carried out of a bar? Hmm?”
    Kerry’s eyebrow lifted. “The subject’s not likely to come up, so I have no idea how they’d react.”
    “Really?” Sam smiled. “Well, I’ve got ten people who’ll swear that’s exactly what happened last night, little Ms. Kerry.”
    The reaction wasn’t what he expected. Kerry burst into laughter.
    “You’re not seriously threatening me with that, are you?”
    He was a little disconcerted, but retained his slightly mocking attitude. “Is it so farfetched? You’re a pretty little thing and I bet you know how to have fun, don’t you?” Then he picked up a folder on his desk and flipped it open. “And they say a picture’s worth a thousand words.”
    Kerry glanced at the folder, then blinked, startled to see an image of herself, very obviously out of control in an unfamiliar setting. “Nice piece of editing,” she finally stated, her voice taking on a harder edge. “What’s your point?”
    “Ah.” He smiled. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Tell you what. It’s really easy, and no skin off your nose, Ms. Kerry. You just put in a nice report on us and go on your merry way, and we’ll just never have had this conversation.”
    “And if I don’t?” Kerry asked.
    “Then I’ve got no choice but to contact your boss and put in a formal protest. I can’t have my company being evaluated by someone who shows such…lapsed judgement.” He lifted the picture. “What would your boss say about that, hmm?”
    Kerry rubbed her jaw. “I don’t know. I guess you’ll have to ask her,”

    42 Melissa Good she told him, her chin lifting in challenge as she met his gaze. “But you’re putting your eggs in a flimsy basket, Mr. Gershwin.”
    “Am I?”
    “You’re assuming I was alone last night.” Kerry smiled.
    He laughed in delight. “Oh, that’s even better. You’re going to pull out some flannel shirted bum you found in a bar to defend you?” He snapped the folder shut. “If that’s the way you want to play it, fine.” He looked up as the door opened and a tall, dark haired form slipped in.
    “Excuse me, but this is a private meeting.”
    Dar continued across the room, with every step shedding her casual