deliver an irresistible suggestion for mutual pleasure. However, this time he was distracted by more important issues and Alec quelled his instinctive response.
”Do you think I’m letting Monica distract me?” Owen asked.
Alec noticed the concern in his partner’s eyes. “It’s a borderline case, for both of us.”
He gave a wry smile. “I did wonder if you were feeling a bit rebellious about the Board of Director’s attention to your work at the moment.” He delivered the comment cautiously, expecting a backlash. He got it.
68
Owen’s bad mood flared again. “What, you think I’m spending time with Monica because I’m avoiding an important task? Do you think I’m insane?”
Right then he looked the part. “I know you’re not, but I also know that you like to buck the trend occasionally.” He lifted his eyebrows. “That’s why you are so good at what you do.”
Owen’s expression morphed from anger to grumpiness. “Yeah, besides, I buck the trend enough by shagging my male PA while on the job, don’t you think?” Sarcasm rang in his tone.
Alec laughed. “That’s not the only reason you shag me.”
“Maybe not.” Owen shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked confused for a moment which made Alec want to hold him, but he knew that wasn’t a good idea, not right now.
Owen glanced over rather sheepishly. “So, have I missed something important?”
“I don’t think we’ve missed anything at all. I wanted to have this conversation so that we are both aware of the possibility. I’m watching out for you, Owen.”
Owen nodded. “I know. I appreciate it. She is worth it though, isn’t she?”
Alec laughed softly. That Owen wanted his approval on this indicated just how important she was. “Absolutely. I don’t think either of us could stop being involved with her, that’s not what I’m trying to say. We just need to be extra vigilant.”
Owen scrubbed his head with his knuckles again. “We’ve rattled the entire staff, just by being here. All we can do is keep looking and listening. Have you got any gut feelings about where the leak is?”
“I keep coming back to accounting because it’s the obvious one. They’ve made some alterations to the recommended system. That made me concerned. I’m going to make a copy of their database, get it onto my laptop and see if I can find anything. The financial leak could be anywhere though, cleverly concealed from the accountants. There have been a lot of refurbishments over the last year and it’s all specialist stuff.”
“Like the staff elevator?”
“Yes, and they’ve just completed a major phase of suite makeovers.” Alec shrugged.
“There could be something worth looking into there, since this is a recent situation. In general the accounting systems look pretty sound.”
69
“We’ll have to find out who deals with the purchasing decisions on the renovation work.” Owen sat down, right on the edge of his seat with his elbows on his knees. “I had a quick look at the booking records when I came through reception this morning, and there’s a good turnover. Could be a bit better but it’s hovering at eighty-five percent occupied on average, over the current season. I’m going to go further back tomorrow.”
“That’s not bad at all. Like you say, we’ll have to suggest ways to push it up, aim for ninety percent.”
Owen studied him. “You thought about asking Monica to use her psychic ability to help us, didn’t you? “
“Yes, but I didn’t think that one through. I’m aware that I blundered there. I wouldn’t want to put her in that position.”
Owen remained thoughtful. “No. It would have to be something she offered to do.”
“Let’s not think about that angle. The evening is ours. There’s nothing we can do until tomorrow. Let’s just enjoy it.”
Owen nodded but he was still distracted. Alec was, however, relieved that his partner had taken his comments on board. Neither of
”Do you think I’m letting Monica distract me?” Owen asked.
Alec noticed the concern in his partner’s eyes. “It’s a borderline case, for both of us.”
He gave a wry smile. “I did wonder if you were feeling a bit rebellious about the Board of Director’s attention to your work at the moment.” He delivered the comment cautiously, expecting a backlash. He got it.
68
Owen’s bad mood flared again. “What, you think I’m spending time with Monica because I’m avoiding an important task? Do you think I’m insane?”
Right then he looked the part. “I know you’re not, but I also know that you like to buck the trend occasionally.” He lifted his eyebrows. “That’s why you are so good at what you do.”
Owen’s expression morphed from anger to grumpiness. “Yeah, besides, I buck the trend enough by shagging my male PA while on the job, don’t you think?” Sarcasm rang in his tone.
Alec laughed. “That’s not the only reason you shag me.”
“Maybe not.” Owen shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked confused for a moment which made Alec want to hold him, but he knew that wasn’t a good idea, not right now.
Owen glanced over rather sheepishly. “So, have I missed something important?”
“I don’t think we’ve missed anything at all. I wanted to have this conversation so that we are both aware of the possibility. I’m watching out for you, Owen.”
Owen nodded. “I know. I appreciate it. She is worth it though, isn’t she?”
Alec laughed softly. That Owen wanted his approval on this indicated just how important she was. “Absolutely. I don’t think either of us could stop being involved with her, that’s not what I’m trying to say. We just need to be extra vigilant.”
Owen scrubbed his head with his knuckles again. “We’ve rattled the entire staff, just by being here. All we can do is keep looking and listening. Have you got any gut feelings about where the leak is?”
“I keep coming back to accounting because it’s the obvious one. They’ve made some alterations to the recommended system. That made me concerned. I’m going to make a copy of their database, get it onto my laptop and see if I can find anything. The financial leak could be anywhere though, cleverly concealed from the accountants. There have been a lot of refurbishments over the last year and it’s all specialist stuff.”
“Like the staff elevator?”
“Yes, and they’ve just completed a major phase of suite makeovers.” Alec shrugged.
“There could be something worth looking into there, since this is a recent situation. In general the accounting systems look pretty sound.”
69
“We’ll have to find out who deals with the purchasing decisions on the renovation work.” Owen sat down, right on the edge of his seat with his elbows on his knees. “I had a quick look at the booking records when I came through reception this morning, and there’s a good turnover. Could be a bit better but it’s hovering at eighty-five percent occupied on average, over the current season. I’m going to go further back tomorrow.”
“That’s not bad at all. Like you say, we’ll have to suggest ways to push it up, aim for ninety percent.”
Owen studied him. “You thought about asking Monica to use her psychic ability to help us, didn’t you? “
“Yes, but I didn’t think that one through. I’m aware that I blundered there. I wouldn’t want to put her in that position.”
Owen remained thoughtful. “No. It would have to be something she offered to do.”
“Let’s not think about that angle. The evening is ours. There’s nothing we can do until tomorrow. Let’s just enjoy it.”
Owen nodded but he was still distracted. Alec was, however, relieved that his partner had taken his comments on board. Neither of
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