Protection

by Shelley Munro

  “I have to make an important phone call.” Cinnamon buns or not, there was a joke here at her expense. Alice backed toward the door. She’d have a coffee later.

  “Not so fast, missy,” Ben said. “Pour the girl a coffee, Harriet. She’s looking a mite tired. A jolt of caffeine might wake her up.”

  Alarm heightened. This was a mass attack.

  “Alice, sit here.” Joseph waved her to a seat beside him.

  Feeling like a mouse facing a nest of snakes, Alice perched on the edge of the chair ready for a quick getaway. A cup rattled in its saucer as Harriet placed a black coffee in front of her. Ben handed Harriet the milk and sugar, and she set these in front of Alice too.

  “She might enjoy a cinnamon bun,” Katarina said.

  Those pale eyes were predatory.

  “What is going on?” Alice made eye contact with Rita, Ben and Harriet. Her stomach roiled when her gaze moved on to Joseph. Why did they have to pick on her? At least she knew it wasn’t condom related since they didn’t have any of those handy-dandy penis models on the table. At least she hoped it wasn’t condom related…

  “Isn’t James here?” Joseph asked with a glance at the door. If Alice weren’t mistaken, his expression held disappointment.

  It was something about the two of them. Oh heck. It was condom related.

  “James shouldn’t miss this,” Ben agreed, springing to his feet. “I’ll go and get him.”

  Perhaps she didn’t feel like a mouse after all. No, she was a special exhibition at the Auckland museum. Alice forced herself to reach for her coffee instead of fidgeting. She added milk and half a teaspoon of sugar. Her hand trembled a tad, although she didn’t think it was too noticeable. She sipped her coffee and waited for the oldies to spring their trap.

  Voices sounded in the passage outside the boardroom. Alice wondered who else Ben had rounded up to witness whatever humiliation the board wanted to heap on them.

  “After you,” Ben said in a loud voice.

  They all straightened, a signal the show was about to begin. Alice darted a glance at the door and set her coffee cup down with a thump. “Steven. What are you doing here?”

  “He’s come to set your wedding date,” Ben said in a gleeful tone.

  Alice jumped to her feet. “We’ll have this discussion in private. Come to my office.” She seized Steven’s arm and tugged but Ben blocked their way.

  “Have a coffee and a cinnamon bun,” Katarina suggested. “No need to hurry. James, here’s your coffee.”

  Alice glanced at James. He didn’t give a hint of his emotions, and she could only guess at his thoughts. When he neared, a flicker of emotion darkened his eyes, vanishing almost as quickly as it appeared. He stepped past and dropped into an empty seat at the far end of the boardroom. Meanwhile the board members shuffled along so Steven could sit next to her. She muttered under her breath and stomped back to her chair.

  “You’re in the local paper today,” Joseph said, breaking the uneasy silence.

  Alice’s stomach flipped uneasily, a version of butterflies but ten times worse. Her gaze darted to James. His blue eyes widened briefly and his head moved in an imperceptible shake. He had no idea what they were on about either.

  “James, you’re mentioned as well.”

  “Stop prodding and tell us what you’re talking about,” James snapped. “We’re both busy and don’t have time for your shenanigans.”

  “Not too busy for a little rumpy-pumpy,” Harriet said in an arch tone.

  “You know we’re testing the condoms.” James vibrated with anger, his eyes glowering and his mouth compressed into a flat line. His gaze scorched as it flitted across Steven before grazing over her face. He thought she’d lied to him.

  “Testing condoms? You? And Alice? Together?” Steven’s brows rose toward his retreating hairline.

  “Yes.” Irritation built inside Alice. She aimed it at James for his lack of trust—although why it mattered when he intended to leave anyway. She aimed it at Steven for informing everyone they intended to get married, and she aimed her displeasure at the board members for stirring trouble. Their board powers had zapped to their heads. They thought it was fun to play with other people’s emotions.

  “Oh well. What’s done is done. Alice will return home with me. I’ve booked the church and ordered your wedding gown.”

  James ignored the pompous idiot sitting beside Alice and concentrated on Harriet. It was either that or hit the man. “What the hell are you talking about? What have Alice and I done to hit the headlines?” He cast about for a plausible reason and alarm bells wailed. The oldies were up to something. James glowered at each of them in turn. “Tell us now.”

  Ben produced a copy of the Sloan Gazette and handed it over. “Ms. Knowall’s column.”

  “What page?” James glanced at Alice’s ashen face. “Do you have another copy?”

  Katarina handed her paper to Alice. “Page three.”

  James flipped over to page three and stared in shock. Ms. Knowall had a full page spread instead of her normal column, and she’d used the entire page to report on Fancy Free, its manager and new owner. The article covered private stuff that most people wouldn’t know about him and pictures taken outside his house. Last night.

  “I feel sick.” Alice appeared numb. She glanced at him before turning back to study the photos on the page, the photos of them having sex on the car hood.

  “Alice, I forgive you,” Steven said.

  Harriet sniffed, showing what she thought of his magnanimous offer.

  “It doesn’t matter. We can work something out,” Steven added. “No one will see this two-bit paper.”

  “Don’t say another word,” Alice snapped.

  James snorted in contempt. The man kept digging himself a deeper hole.

  “Is any of that true?” Joseph’s grizzled gray brows arched to punctuate his question.

  Alice stood abruptly drawing everyone’s attention. “Yes, it’s all true. But I have no idea what Ms. Knowall hopes to gain by my public embarrassment or why she’s determined to blacken our names. I have work to do and a fete to attend.”

  Pride filled James as she stalked out, head held high. She wasn’t apologizing for spending time with him. She wasn’t ashamed of his profession or lack of one. A smile played across his lips. Alice didn’t judge people or assign them with labels. No, that wasn’t her style.

  “Where is she going?” Steven demanded.

  The oldies gave him the look that said he was a worthless sack of shit and didn’t deserve Alice while James suppressed a curse. The man was clueless. James unclenched his fists, shook his head and followed Alice. No wonder she’d decided to stay in Sloan. Only a fool would think Steven equated security.

  She stormed down the passage in front of him, her head held high, looking neither left nor right. The slam of her office door was the only hint of a temper she displayed.

  James grinned. What a woman. He paused outside, hand hovering at the doorknob, before he decided he’d wait. Give her time to cool down about Ms. Knowall’s article. Meantime, he intended to confront the author in person. This time Ms. Knowall had gone too far and given herself away.

  * * * * *

  James strode past the kitchen window and entered the rear door of the house without a polite knock. It was like time traveling to his teenage years. The house hadn’t changed. The same beige carpet and fussy décor, the scent of lavender furniture polish, a vase of white daisies on the sideboard. Each surface in the kitchen gleamed with not a thing out of place.

  “Hello, Mother,” he said.

  “Ah, I thought you might come to your senses.” Satisfaction coated her voice and seeped into her expression. Some might call it smug.

  “Yes, I have.” A sense of hurt ached in his chest, and he wondered why he cared. Thoughts of Alice floated into his mind. They had more in common than he’d realized. Much more.

  “I’ll call Melissa. You can start at the law firm next week. You’l
l need a few days to organize suits and cut your hair.”

  “For the last time, I’m not going into law. I don’t enjoy it and I only qualified to please you and Dad.”

  “Not… Then why are you here?” Suddenly his mother seemed old and unsure of herself. Probably a temporary situation, but in that moment, he knew his mother loved him even if it was misguided. They’d probably never see eye-to-eye about the way he chose to live his life. It didn’t matter. James realized they argued because they were alike. In his own way, he was just as determined.

  “I want you to stop picking on Alice. She doesn’t deserve her name blackened along with her reputation.”

  “But—”

  “No.” James held up his right hand to emphasize his order. “You tell Ms. Knowall to lay off Alice or else I’ll take steps to ensure she never works in this town again.”

  His mother’s face paled before she rallied. “She’s not good enough for you. I thought I recognized her name. Her father is the man who ripped off his customers and would have continued if he hadn’t declared bankruptcy.”

  “Alice is a qualified accountant,” James snapped. “She’s too good for me, which is why I’m leaving town once she fulfils the terms of the will.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  “Isn’t that what Ms. Knowall wants? Haven’t you and your nom de plume been angling for me to leave all along?” His eyes narrowed on his mother, not holding back his irritation. He’d suspected all along but hadn’t cared enough to call her on it until she’d blackened Alice’s name along with his.

  His mother tottered over to the table and drew out a chair. She sank down, her face so pale James started to worry.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Do you intend to tell everyone?”

  “It depends on what you do next. Most of Sloan citizens enjoy your column, but that’s because you write in a clever way that isn’t offensive. You’ve stepped over the line with Alice. Skulking in the shadows to snap photos is wrong. I’m not a kid. I don’t need you to supervise my love life.”

  “So what are you going to do? You won’t tell people about Ms. Knowall. You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me. I will keep seeing Alice while I’m in Sloan. The minute Ms. Knowall starts on more veiled references to Alice, I’m writing a letter to the editor of the Gazette to let everyone know her real identity. You will apologize to Alice in person. Clear?”

  “Yes.” His mother nodded, albeit grudgingly.

  James narrowed his gaze as a nasty thought occurred. “While you’re at it, Ms. Knowall should write a column featuring Esmeralda Bates and her daughter Melissa. Spread it around a little.” Maybe it would knock his sister off the pedestal she lived on, take away her air of superiority because he’d bet Melissa didn’t know what their mother had been up to. “Deal?”

  His mother grimaced. “I will do as you ask.”

  “But you still don’t agree about the way I choose to live my life.”

  “Couldn’t you—”

  “No.” He glared at his mother and she shriveled at his stern expression. “I intend to live my life the way I choose.”

  “You’re making a mistake.” She swallowed hard but lifted her chin to meet his gaze.

  “Possibly. But it’s my mistake to make.” James left the house the same way he’d entered, his mood lighter. If his mother thought he wouldn’t act, she didn’t know him as well as she should.

  * * * * *

  Her carefully planned, secure life was falling around her ears. Ms. Knowall had splashed details of her private life across page three of the Sloan Gazette. A lot of it was innuendo with enough truth to bring acute embarrassment.

  Steven was treating her like a commodity in front of everyone and worst of all, James intended to leave town. He mightn’t be marriage material, he mightn’t be the perfect man to give her security, yet he was the man she’d fallen for—the one she loved.

  Talk about a mess.

  Alice brushed a tear from her eyes and bit her bottom lip hard to stem a crying jag.

  She sat on her blue swivel chair and tried not to let the sense of helplessness overwhelm her. Although she’d taken a step forward today with James inviting her to move in with him, he still intended to leave and her savings were nil since she’d used them to prop up the company.

  She had nothing.

  No money, no reputation and no man.

  Zilch.

  Her gaze fell upon the printouts and her thoughts narrowed to one thing. Her godmother had left her Fancy Free for a reason. She’d trusted Alice to do the right thing and that didn’t include letting the company fail.

  Time for her to return the trust her godmother had given her. She started going through the figures, manually checking totals and percentages instead of relying on the spreadsheet program to do the calculations. Alice took her responsibilities seriously. She might ultimately fail, but damn if she’d go down without a fight.

  Two hours later, she thought she’d worked out the problem with the budgets. As she’d expected, someone had altered the formulas, which had thrown everything out, resulting in the bottom profit line appearing far less than it was. No wonder the bank manager had baulked at another loan. Alice placed the evidence in a folder and went searching for James.

  Rita sat at her desk and Alice studied her with new eyes. She’d never have guessed she and Alicia were lovers. Somehow, that had to be the key to why she’d attempted sabotage.

  “Hi, Rita. Is James in his office?”

  “Yes, I think he’s on the phone.”

  “I’ll go in and wait for him to finish his call.” Alice held her head high. She refused to cower because of Ms. Knowall’s article.

  Rita nodded and Alice walked past her, tapped briefly on the door and entered James’ office. She took a seat.

  While she waited, Alice thought about her godmother’s will. She couldn’t remember if Rita had received a bequest. The reading of the will had been so surreal—she didn’t remember much of the day. James might know and failing that, the lawyer would know.

  James concluded his call and hung up. His blue eyes held sympathy and more that she was frightened to decipher. When it came to James, terror and anxiety stopped her assumptions. He was still going to leave. That hadn’t changed.

  “You okay?”

  Alice shrugged. “I feel a bit battered and bloody. I’m sure it will pass.”

  “You want to go out for a coffee?”

  Alice shuddered even though she knew showing her face in public would help the gossip die down more quickly than if she acted the hermit. “All right. I have time before I need to go to Lindy’s to help with the fete. I want to show you something first.” She opened the folder and produced her budget printouts. “Someone has fiddled with the formulas. It’s been done very cleverly and isn’t obvious unless you sit down with a calculator and check everything manually.”

  “But only three of us have looked at the budgets.”

  “Yes. I was sure this had nothing to do with the dog and the clown.” A tremble rippled down her spine. “I’m sure they’re just cult members who want to scare me.”

  “I’ll get Rita to explain herself,” James said in a tight voice.

  “Wait,” Alice said. “What did Alicia leave Rita in her will?”

  “Their house.”

  “So there’s no reason Rita would feel slighted?” It was the only thing that made sense.

  James tapped his pen on the printouts in front of him. “I don’t know. Let’s confront her. I’d hate to see Fancy Free fail because of dirty tactics.”

  “I’ll ask her to come into the office.” Alice stood and opened the door. “Rita, can you come into the office please?”

  Rita’s welcoming smile faded. For an instant she looked like an animal caught in vehicle headlights but rallied quickly. “I was about to go to the bank.”

  “This won’t take long,” Alice said firmly. “James is waiting.”

  Silently, Rita en
tered the office. Alice followed and shut the door, indicating she should sit. Once Rita sat, she dropped into a seat beside her.

  Their admin assistant scanned James then Alice, her expression holding a touch of defiance. “What’s this about?”

  “I think you know.” Tension rippled in Alice’s tone.

  “The budgets. Rita, what’s going on?” James spoke curtly and Alice knew he was determined to resolve the matter.

  Rita’s chin shot upward, her dark eyes glittering with challenge. “I haven’t done anything.”

  “That’s not true,” Alice snapped. “Someone amended the budgets before they were sent to the bank. James didn’t do it. I didn’t do it, so that leaves you.”

  “So what if I did?” Rita responded, abandoning all pretense. She tossed her head in a gesture of defiance.

  “Why?” James demanded. “What the hell are you playing at?”

  The fight seeped from Rita and she suddenly looked her age with lines bracketing her mouth and gray circles beneath her eyes. “It was my idea to start Fancy Free. Alicia supplied the money. I thought she’d leave the company to me when she died.” Rita paused to sniff and glowered at Alice. “She left the company to you.”

  “I knew you helped Alicia at the start. Surely the company means as much to you as it did to her.” James’ face never softened as he spoke, remaining unyielding and stern. “Did you interfere with the orders? And leak details of the X-100 to the opposition?”

  Alice studied Rita and knew, just knew she lay at the bottom of Fancy Free’s problems. She shook her head in pure disbelief. “All of this because Alicia didn’t leave you the company? Because of greed.”

  “It wasn’t greed.” Rita eyes spat fire and her lips set in mulish determination. “It’s the principle. I gave my all for this company and Alicia threw it in my face.”

  “Alicia left you the house. Wasn’t that enough?” James asked.

  Rita stiffened at his challenge. “It’s not about money. I don’t care about the money.” She waved her hand in a dismissive manner, “All I want is recognition for my contribution to the company.”

  James rose and prowled to the window. He stared out for a moment before turning to face them. “Have you done anything else we haven’t discovered?”