Corporate Affair by Unknown Page B

In what capacity?"
    "I’ll, uh, be explaining Mr. Alastair’s role to everyone tomorrow morning," she got out weakly, feeling trapped. "He will be with us in a very limited, short-term capacity," she added spitefully as Rand shot her an amused look.
    "Well, well, I’ll look forward to having you with us, Rand. You won’t find a nicer boss in town!"
    Harold assured him with a vast chuckle.
    "Like father, like daughter," Edna Sebastian added warmly. "Everyone at the company is delighted that she took over the reins two years ago. Just ask anyone in the room!" Edna waved gaily at the crowd behind them.
    "I’m sure I shall thoroughly enjoy my association with her, also," Rand said glibly, his eyes still on Kalinda’s studiously composed face.
    He grinned down at her as the Sebastians faded back into the crowd. "You seemed to be well-liked by your staff," he drawled.
    "It’s positively feudal at times," she sighed, acknowledging the truth. "We’re a publicly owned company but somehow everyone still thinks of it as a family firm."
    "How long ago did you go public with your stock?" he asked, suddenly serious.
    "Almost as soon as I took over. We needed capital and we needed it badly. I had to convince everyone that it was a clear turnaround situation, make investors think that they could get in on the ground floor of a company that was about to make a big comeback. I’ve never worked so hard in all my life!"
    "I’ll bet," he nodded assessingly. "The stock is now widely held?"
    "Yes, I’m afraid so." She winced. "Not so long ago I was glad of that!"
    "Now you realize that it just makes it easier for Hutton to buy up shares. You don’t have any large controlling blocks sitting in friendly hands."
    "You needn’t look so superior. I had no choice at the time! I couldn’t get the loans I needed from the banks. There was no choice but to raise capital by selling shares in the firm!"
    "You don’t have to defend your actions to me, sweetheart," he murmured caressingly. "I understand completely."
    She fixed him with a narrow glance. "Just how much do you understand? Who are you, Rand? Why does Harold think he remembers your name? How do you come to have contacts high enough in the
    business world to find out what Hutton’s doing even before I do?"
    "It’s a long story, honey. Remind me to tell it to you later. For now, though, I think we’d better circulate. People are beginning to notice that I’m getting your undivided attention!"
    He put a hand firmly under her elbow and waded into the crowd. Kalinda felt herself helplessly swept along, her thoughts in a turmoil, her heart beating a little too fast and her nerves singing a tune on the ragged edge of an emotion she didn’t want to admit to feeling.
    But she knew how to deal with a crowd of business-oriented people. By the time the last of the guests had regretfully taken his leave, Kalinda would have been willing to wager that none of them had guessed at her inner uncertainty and confusion. She was aware, however, that more than one knowing glance had absorbed the fact that Rand seldom left her side during the evening. She saw the assessing look in Colin Wayne’s eyes although he was cordial when he, was introduced. Rand paid him no
    particular attention, apparently oblivious to the querying glance in the other man’s gaze.
    Kalinda was also conscious of the pleased speculation from the members of her own staff in the crowd and the curious, smiling looks from others. And some, like Harold, looked as if they could almost place Rand.
    It seemed like forever before she gratefully closed the door on the last guest and turned to see Rand pouring himself a snifter of cognac. He had drunk very little during the course of the evening and he looked as if he were anticipating the nightcap with relish.
    She watched grimly as he lowered himself into an apricot chair and put up his feet. He saluted her briefly with the glass in his hand.
    "I must thank you for an interesting