In Over Her Head (Corporate Chaos Series Book 1)

by Leighann Dobbs

  Tanner Durcotte walked through the doors of Theorim, whistling to himself and nodding hello to the receptionist. He was in a fantastic mood, anticipating the flood of orders that had surely come through overnight from the buyers who had seen his new fall line yesterday when the ads were sent out. He made a quick stop at his office to hang up his coat and then headed down the hallway to the conference room for the customary "day after" meeting, where they reviewed the orders they had received after the first viewing. This was always a good way to estimate sales for fall.

  As he entered the large room, it grew quiet. People scattered to their seats, avoiding eye contact.

  "Well, I'm quite eager to see the results so far." Tanner's good mood plummeted as he glanced around the table. No one was smiling. Not a good sign.

  After a few moments of silence, Belinda Slopes, the head of purchasing, spoke up.

  "Well, Mr. Durcotte, errr, things aren't as good as we had hoped." She took a large gulp of water.

  "What's the bottom line? How many orders?" Tanner snapped at her.

  "None," she replied, her voice quivering.

  Tanner stood up, looking around the table.

  "This is a joke, right? I am not in the mood, people. Never once, ever, in the history of Theorim have we received nothing for orders after a new line was sent out to print. Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

  Marcy Nichols, the head of design, spoke up, clearing her throat.

  "Instead of purchase orders, we received some feedback. Negative feedback. Overall, the buyers felt the clothing didn't look good on the models, and if it doesn't show well, then no one is going to want to buy it." She looked as if she wanted to add an "I told you so" at the end, which diminished Tanner's mood even further. Even though she had warned him that these designs weren't right, he had insisted they stay as is. They were the designs from Draconia and should be a big hit. Shouldn't they? Either way, he didn't need a snotty attitude from Marcy Nichols.

  "Well, that can't be true. That's just one of the buyers' opinions. What about the rest?" Tanner looked around the table.

  "I hear pretty much the same from all my sources," Bart Landers said. Everyone else nodded.

  Tanner couldn't believe it. What had happened? Maybe this was a big joke. He glanced at the sales sheet in front of him. No sales. This was no joke.

  He stormed out of the conference room, stomped down the hallway to his office, and slammed the door shut. He paced back and forth once inside. With no orders, he was done. They couldn't stay afloat. He had bet everything on this new fall line.

  His gaze wandered over to a plaque he had been given by his wife, many years ago when he first started the company. It had one simple word on it. Karma. He had screwed Marly over, and it had come around full circle now to him. He slumped down in his chair and started to sob.

  33

  Marly melted into the buttery-soft leather couch in Jasper's penthouse, where she was seated with Jasper and Raffe. Raffe had offered to clear out, but Marly insisted he stay. She wanted to thank him for being the one to figure out what was going on and clue Sarah in about the money. If it hadn't been for the two of them, Marly and Jasper might have let the misunderstandings between them fester and never gotten together.

  Her mother had made it through surgery the day before with flying colors and was now resting. Jasper had stayed by her side at the hospital the whole time, leaving only for a few hours to tend to business at Draconia. Apparently, the buyers had loved her plus-size line designs, and orders had exceeded expectations.

  "I wish I could have seen Veronica's face when you fired her. I never liked her. Too skinny." Raffe leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees, a tumbler of whiskey cupped in his hands.

  Marly felt a stab of pity. Veronica had gotten what she deserved, but Marly still felt a little bit sorry for her. The girl clearly had issues. Maybe her bitchy behavior wasn't really her fault. Then again, Marly could afford to feel generous—she'd gotten the guy, her mother's prognosis was positive, and her job was secure.

  "She deserved it!" Sarah yelled from the kitchen, where she was cleaning up from the meal she'd insisted on preparing for them.

  "She's right," Jasper said. "Truth is, I was thinking about getting rid of her even before she pulled all this crap."

  "I guess you're right. Your father might not have liked that you promoted me after he had me fired, though," Marly said.

  Jasper took her hand and squeezed it. "That's too bad. It's about time my father realized that I run the company now." Jasper had opened a new plus-size department and put her in place as VP. "You don't have to worry about him."

  Marly gazed into his eyes, deep blue with compassion… and something else she didn't dare think about. Could it really work between them?

  "Ahem…" Raffe made a face at them. "It's nice that everything is working out for the two of you. Really. But what about my problem?"

  "You mean the culinary contest? That's easy. Just get married," Jasper joked.

  Raffe snorted and leaned back in his chair. "You know that's not gonna happen."

  During the hours Marly had spent in the hospital with Jasper, he'd told her about Raffe. They'd been best friends since they were boys. Raffe was a playboy, and Jasper had entertained her with stories about some of his funnier exploits.

  But looking at Raffe right now, she sensed there was a lot more going on underneath. And, even though he was acting casual about the whole contest, she sensed that it was important to him. He wanted something more than what his father's money could buy. He wanted to prove that he was worthy, and this contest could help.

  "You don't actually have to get married," Marly said.

  "What do you mean?" Raffe asked. "The contest is for chef couples either married or engaged."

  "Right, so you could just be engaged, and if the engagement doesn't work out after the contest…" Marly let her voice trail off. She was a little worried that she was getting good at coming up with deceptive plans, but maybe this plan would work out for the best, just like her plan with the designs.

  Raffe took a sip of whiskey and pursed his lips. "Okay, I see what you mean. That could work."

  "It could," Jasper said. "But where would we find someone with culinary skills that would be willing to pose as his fiancée?"

  A dish smashed to the floor in the kitchen. "Shit! Sorry!" Sarah's voice rang out.

  Marly's eyes slid in that direction then back to Jasper and Raffe. "It might take some persuading, but I think I might know someone who would be just perfect."

  Epilogue

  Tanner Durcotte and Veronica St. James shook hands firmly, sizing each other up as they followed the hostess to a private booth in the back of the restaurant.

  "Well, I have to say I was quite intrigued when I got your call, Miss St. James," Tanner said, ordering himself a drink as she did the same.

  "I'm sure you were. We do seem to have something in common. I thought perhaps we could have a discussion about it."

  "Draconia," Tanner said dryly and slowly, as if the word hurt him to say it.

  "Yes," Veronica replied, stirring her drink. "I think it's safe to say we both are not the biggest fans of the company or its most meddling employees."

  "That would be an understatement," Tanner huffed.

  "I was fired by Jasper because of information I gave him about you and Marly West," Veronica said, trying to read Tanner's facial expression after she said it.

  "Miss St. James, there isn't much to tell about Marly West and me. Whatever information you gave Jasper is irrelevant. As I'm sure you've heard, I just had to file for bankruptcy, and Theorim Fashions is nonexistent now."

  "I heard. I assume you've also heard that Jasper is branching out, into different businesses. He's partnering with that philandering friend of his, Raffe Washburne, on some restaurant deal." She sensed his surprise. No one knew Jasper was a partner aside from a few people. Veronica only knew from snooping on Raffe's conversations with J
asper and a snitch she still had back at Draconia.

  "I wasn't aware of that, but I'm unsure why I would care," Tanner said.

  Veronica knew he cared. She knew he hated Jasper, probably even more so now.

  "The designs Marly gave you were fakes. She knew they wouldn't work. She cooked that scheme up with Jasper's little personal chef, Sarah Thomas. In the meantime, the real designs gave Draconia the best quarter yet in terms of orders received. Record setting. Marly and Jasper are quite happy about it, I hear."

  Tanner scrunched his face up.

  "What do you mean, Marly and Jasper?"

  "They're a couple. Didn't you know? Yes, an odd couple. And Sarah—I'm unsure if you know her—she's now teaming up with Washburne to win some prestigious cooking award. If they win, it will make his restaurants more popular. It will put a lot of other restaurants out of business." Veronica looked at Tanner innocently and twirled the tiny straw around in her drink.

  Veronica could practically hear the wheels turning in Tanner's head. Sure, she'd laid it on a little thick about Washburn's win putting other restaurants out of business. She had no idea if that would happen. But she'd done her homework, and she knew Tanner also owned a few restaurants. She figured the recent happenings with Draconia would make him overly sensitive to being run out of business by Jasper or any of his friends.

  Tanner was trying to look calm, but Veronica saw his fist clench around his glass, his face reddening. "So this Sarah girl, she's in on it?"

  Veronica nodded.

  "She must have been the brains behind the fake-designs plan. Marly's a meek little girl who could never have pulled off such a scheme."

  "That's right. She was. And I happen to know a little secret that could take her and Washburne down. It will hurt his restaurants, and that will hurt Jasper and Marly, too." Veronica went in for the kill.

  Tanner frowned at her. She could see he was skeptical but interested. She had him right where she wanted him.

  "Where are you getting your information from?" he asked.

  "I have my sources. The bottom line is, do you want to join me and put them out of business or not?"

  ***************

  Will Veronica and Tanner ruin things for Raffe and Sarah? Find out in “Can’t Stand the Heat” - join our email list to get an email when it releases:

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  Or buy the books separately:

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  ___________________

  A Note From The Author

  We hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as we enjoyed writing it. This is the first in a new series that combines humor, romance and a twist of suspense.

  This book has been through many edits with several people and even some software programs, but since nothing is infallible (even the software programs) you might catch a spelling error or mistake and, if you do, we sure would appreciate it if you’d let us know - you can contact Lee at lee@leighanndobbs.com.

  Oh, and we love to connect with my readers so please do visit Leighann’s private reader group where we can chat and you can find out how to get book discounts and a chance at reading an advanced copy for free.

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  About The Authors

  USA Today best selling Author, Leighann Dobbs, has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer with a few side trips into selling antiques and making jewelry, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.

  Together with her sister, Lisa Fenwick, she writes romantic comedy with a twist of suspense. Lisa also lives in New Hampshire with her boyfriend Matt, daughter Alex, two dogs and Sammy the hamster.

  Find out about their latest books and how to get discounts on them by signing up at:

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  This is a work of fiction.

  None of it is real. All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.

  IN OVER HER HEAD

  Copyright © 2017

  Leighann Dobbs Publishing

  http://www.leighanndobbs.com

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use,” without the express written permission of the author.

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