Free Private Release by Amy Ruttan Page A

Clement Rideau. He was Bear Enterprises accountant and, as Adele looked back through the documents, Mr. Rideau had been for some time.
    Étienne was doing something at a computer on the other of the side of the room and even though Adele was loath to ask for his assistance, she must. He had to punch in the code to allow her to go to any other floor besides the penthouse suite or the ground floor. The head of security had made it quite clear everywhere else was out of bounds unless strictly escorted.
    You were a Mountie with the RCMP for fuck’s sake. He’s just a bald, ugly dude.
    “Étienne, I need to visit with Mr. Rideau.”
    Étienne glanced up at her. “Why?”
    “Because he is the one who was responsible for filing all the income tax returns for Beare Enterprises.”
    “Yes, because he’s our accountant.”
    Adele took a deep calming breath. “I’m trying to trace extorted funds. I should be allowed to speak with the Beare Enterprises accountant.”
    “Do you have an appointment?”
    Adele cocked an eyebrow. “Do I need one?”
    “Mr. Rideau is a busy man. He’s trying to save our operation. He’s under a lot of stress.”
    Or he’s trying to cover his tracks. Warning bells went off in Adele’s head, Mr. Rideau was someone she definitely wanted to see now.
    “I’d like to see him all the same, Étienne. Please, take me to him.”
    Étienne ducked his head. “Of course. Follow me.”
    Adele followed Étienne across the penthouse onto the elevator. The doors snapped shut and Étienne hesitated punching in the code.
    “You did sign a confidentiality agreement, didn’t you?”
    “Of course.” Why is Étienne so edgy? “I thought as head of security you’d know that.”
    He grinned. “I do, but I wanted to make sure you did as well.”
    “You’re an odd man.”
    Étienne laughed. It was deep, throaty laugh and she was surprised it came from him. He was so reserved and stoic. Like a caged animal.
    She’d gotten that feeling from Jared numerous times over the last couple of weeks. Jared may have been keeping his distance, but she’d seen him at night on the balcony, pacing. It reminded her of a large predator, stalking the edge of his cage, looking for a way out.
    The elevator stopped, but she didn’t know what floor. The doors opened and Étienne held it as she walked out of the elevator. She gasped at the sight of a large common atrium. From the vantage of the windows directly ahead of her she could tell they were mid-way up the large tower. The view of the city was still pretty spectacular.
    The atrium hummed with people. From her isolation in the penthouse she was predisposed to believe that no one else lived or worked at Beare Enterprises save for Jared and his bald, scarred companion Étienne.
    “This is the common area for our…our employees,” Étienne said.
    And their families apparently. Adele spied some young children on the far side of the atrium, pressing their faces against the glass to gawk at the city of Winnipeg below them. Beare Enterprises obviously had a daycare system, which most large companies did nowadays.
    Then, across the crowded room she caught site of Jared. His ginger hair was unmistakable in a sea of dark black, brown and some blonde. He was standing stiffly against a wall, his arms folded tightly against his chest, talking with the most breath-taking woman Adele had ever seen.
    She was like one of those Swedish models. She was tall, almost as tall as Jared. The woman was trim, fashionably dressed as though she were the first lady. Her platinum-blonde hair was done back in an elegant coif and she had an air of poise about her. The woman reached out and stroked Jared’s arm, with obvious loving affection.
    Adele’s heart sank and suddenly she felt really dowdy in comparison to the tall, cool beauty who currently had Jared’s attention. She looked away. What did she have to live up to?
    Her skin was darker because of her English and Cree heritage. Her black hair