want to discuss this like two grown adults then have a seat and we’ll talk. Otherwise I’m busy.”
He marched across her office, yanking a chair close to her desk.
Nicky took a deep breath. If the grim look on Sam’s face was any indication of the foul mood he was in, she’d need her all her wits about her to win this conversation. “How do you know what I requested? Have you been snooping through my work?” Pushing back from her desk, she swiveled in her seat, meeting his gaze head on.
“I’m the chief executive of this company,” he growled. “I don’t snoop.”
Putting her pen down, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Two could play his game, and she was an expert at follow the leader. “So maybe ‘snoop’ is too common a word. How about spying or even collecting corporate intelligence, if that makes you feel more comfortable?”
Leaning forward, he glared some more. “What makes me feel comfortable is knowing exactly what you’re up to. You never mentioned in your report three days ago that you were looking at specific staff.”
“That’s because three days ago I wasn’t looking at specific staff.”
“Don’t get smart with me, Nicky Scotson. I know how that brain of yours works, and pulling staff records means you’re getting ready to nail someone for fraud.”
Her blood pressure started to rise. Gripping the arms of her chair, she glared right back. “If you knew how my brain worked, Sam Delaney, you wouldn’t have burst into my office like a bee whose sting has just been ripped out of its body. When I took this job, I told you that you weren’t allowed to interfere with the investigation. That rule still stands.” Taking a deep breath, she sat back in her seat. “If you have any questions you’d like to ask me, fire away. If not, I really need to get on with my work.”
“Why did you select the three personnel files that were sent through to you?”
“Are you asking me in general, or about one in particular?” she asked.
His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
Pushing her feet against the floor, she forced herself not to look away from his furious scowl.
“Why was Patrick O’Flynn’s name on one of the files you requested?”
Her gaze shot to the folder on her desk. As soon as question marks started appearing around Patrick’s involvement in the financial operations of the company, she knew she’d have to be very careful. At some point, Sam would find out about her request. She hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
“I wanted to find out what projects he’d been involved in with this company, and to look at his previous work history.”
“An idiot could have told me that,” he snarled. “What I want to know is why you’re looking at him as part of your investigation?”
Her toes started to cramp. Slipping her shoes off under her desk, she flexed her foot on the wooden floor. “I’m not linking Patrick to the missing money at this stage. I asked for three files, not one. I’ll let you know the outcome once I have more information for you.” Another spasm twisted the muscles in her toes into tight knots. If she didn’t move soon, she’d end up howling in agony.
“What the hell are you doing?” Sam growled. “You look like someone’s sticking you with pins.”
Pushing down hard on the floor, she arched her foot, trying to ease the pain bringing tears to her eyes. “For cripes sake,” she snapped. “I’ve got cramp in my toes and it’s driving me insane. If I don’t get up and move I’m going to lose what self control I’ve got and boot your handsome butt out my door.” Vaulting from her chair, she started walking briskly around her office on tippy toes.
Sam sat back in his chair, his mouth clamped shut as he watched her dodge office furniture and an unwelcome visitor. “Your shoes are far too high and you don’t eat enough salt.”
“Excuse me?” she barked.
“Salt and shoes, that’s your
He marched across her office, yanking a chair close to her desk.
Nicky took a deep breath. If the grim look on Sam’s face was any indication of the foul mood he was in, she’d need her all her wits about her to win this conversation. “How do you know what I requested? Have you been snooping through my work?” Pushing back from her desk, she swiveled in her seat, meeting his gaze head on.
“I’m the chief executive of this company,” he growled. “I don’t snoop.”
Putting her pen down, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Two could play his game, and she was an expert at follow the leader. “So maybe ‘snoop’ is too common a word. How about spying or even collecting corporate intelligence, if that makes you feel more comfortable?”
Leaning forward, he glared some more. “What makes me feel comfortable is knowing exactly what you’re up to. You never mentioned in your report three days ago that you were looking at specific staff.”
“That’s because three days ago I wasn’t looking at specific staff.”
“Don’t get smart with me, Nicky Scotson. I know how that brain of yours works, and pulling staff records means you’re getting ready to nail someone for fraud.”
Her blood pressure started to rise. Gripping the arms of her chair, she glared right back. “If you knew how my brain worked, Sam Delaney, you wouldn’t have burst into my office like a bee whose sting has just been ripped out of its body. When I took this job, I told you that you weren’t allowed to interfere with the investigation. That rule still stands.” Taking a deep breath, she sat back in her seat. “If you have any questions you’d like to ask me, fire away. If not, I really need to get on with my work.”
“Why did you select the three personnel files that were sent through to you?”
“Are you asking me in general, or about one in particular?” she asked.
His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
Pushing her feet against the floor, she forced herself not to look away from his furious scowl.
“Why was Patrick O’Flynn’s name on one of the files you requested?”
Her gaze shot to the folder on her desk. As soon as question marks started appearing around Patrick’s involvement in the financial operations of the company, she knew she’d have to be very careful. At some point, Sam would find out about her request. She hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
“I wanted to find out what projects he’d been involved in with this company, and to look at his previous work history.”
“An idiot could have told me that,” he snarled. “What I want to know is why you’re looking at him as part of your investigation?”
Her toes started to cramp. Slipping her shoes off under her desk, she flexed her foot on the wooden floor. “I’m not linking Patrick to the missing money at this stage. I asked for three files, not one. I’ll let you know the outcome once I have more information for you.” Another spasm twisted the muscles in her toes into tight knots. If she didn’t move soon, she’d end up howling in agony.
“What the hell are you doing?” Sam growled. “You look like someone’s sticking you with pins.”
Pushing down hard on the floor, she arched her foot, trying to ease the pain bringing tears to her eyes. “For cripes sake,” she snapped. “I’ve got cramp in my toes and it’s driving me insane. If I don’t get up and move I’m going to lose what self control I’ve got and boot your handsome butt out my door.” Vaulting from her chair, she started walking briskly around her office on tippy toes.
Sam sat back in his chair, his mouth clamped shut as he watched her dodge office furniture and an unwelcome visitor. “Your shoes are far too high and you don’t eat enough salt.”
“Excuse me?” she barked.
“Salt and shoes, that’s your
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