that are too sharp.”
Mark skimmed through the documents. “You’re right about the contract. The agreement doesn’t cover the knock-on effects of the injuries.”
“It also doesn’t cover the wives,” Steele grumbled. “I had Gordon pay them a visit—”
Mark held up a hand. “Don’t tell me anything else. I don’t want to know what Gordon gets up to. I can fix the agreements for you and draft new ones to cover the wives on the basis they suffered as well, although you might have to throw in something by way of compensation.”
Steele waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Whatever you think is reasonable. A few hundred thousand is nothing in the grand scheme of things. This new product is going to make billions for the company.”
Mark stacked the documents in front of him. “Anything else?”
“I want you to handle it personally. I don’t want anyone else to see the file. No partners, no associates, not even administrative staff. When you take the documents for signature, I want you to make it very clear there will be severe consequences if anyone discloses the settlement or any details about the accident.”
Mark stiffened. “I’m not Gordon. I won’t do what he does. I’ll explain but I won’t threaten.”
“If I wanted Gordon to handle it, I would send Gordon,” Steele snapped. “You have your own way of getting a message across. Just make sure it’s understood.”
“Don’t work too late.”
Katy smiled as Ted waved goodbye. He didn’t mean it, of course. He wanted her to work late. Bill more hours. Make more money. Prove she had what it took to become a partner. The fringe benefits for her would be freedom from Steven’s financial noose and the achievement of a lifelong goal. Definitely worth the long hours.
She sipped her latte and licked the creamy foam off her lips. The caffeine boost would keep her going for a few more hours.
She licked again, imagining Mark’s lips on hers. How would he taste this time? Would his lips be soft and warm or firm and cool?
Back to work. No kisses for you.
With a sigh, she opened her file and read her notes about Martha’s friend, Martin Kowalski, Chief Scientific Officer and one of Hi-Tech’s longest-serving employees. Although Martin had made it clear to Martha he didn’t want to be involved, he would be an important witness in Martha’s case. She took a deep breath and dialed the number Martha had given her.
“Kowalski residence.”
Katy introduced herself as Martha’s lawyer. She had just started a brief explanation of the dismissal case when Martin interrupted her.
“Where are you calling from? Is your line secure?”
Katy raised her eyebrows. “I’m in my office, and yes, the firm lines are secure. Are you concerned your phone is being monitored?”
“With Hi-Tech, you never know. We have only three minutes to speak before my line will be traced. You’ve used up thirty-five seconds already.”
Katy’s eyes widened. Either Martin suffered from extreme paranoia or genuine fear. Regardless, she wouldn’t waste any more time. “Why did you give Martha the list of names?”
To her relief, he didn’t deny he had authored the note. “To help.”
“Help Martha?”
“And people whose lives may be at risk.”
Katy sighed.“Could you give me a bit more detail?”
“If I wanted to do that, I would have gone to the regulatory agencies myself or even the police. But whistle-blowers in the pharmaceutical industry have a tendency to meet with terrible accidents. Altruistic as I am, the simple fact is, I want to live.”
Katy’s heart pounded. Backtrack. Tease it out of him like a hostile witness.
“You knew the men on the list, didn’t you?”
His voice tightened. “I did.”
“When you gave her the list, you told her it would help prove her allegations about falsifying data and reports?”
“Yes.”
Katy sighed into the phone. “Martin, I understand you’re afraid to speak directly, but you can
Mark skimmed through the documents. “You’re right about the contract. The agreement doesn’t cover the knock-on effects of the injuries.”
“It also doesn’t cover the wives,” Steele grumbled. “I had Gordon pay them a visit—”
Mark held up a hand. “Don’t tell me anything else. I don’t want to know what Gordon gets up to. I can fix the agreements for you and draft new ones to cover the wives on the basis they suffered as well, although you might have to throw in something by way of compensation.”
Steele waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Whatever you think is reasonable. A few hundred thousand is nothing in the grand scheme of things. This new product is going to make billions for the company.”
Mark stacked the documents in front of him. “Anything else?”
“I want you to handle it personally. I don’t want anyone else to see the file. No partners, no associates, not even administrative staff. When you take the documents for signature, I want you to make it very clear there will be severe consequences if anyone discloses the settlement or any details about the accident.”
Mark stiffened. “I’m not Gordon. I won’t do what he does. I’ll explain but I won’t threaten.”
“If I wanted Gordon to handle it, I would send Gordon,” Steele snapped. “You have your own way of getting a message across. Just make sure it’s understood.”
“Don’t work too late.”
Katy smiled as Ted waved goodbye. He didn’t mean it, of course. He wanted her to work late. Bill more hours. Make more money. Prove she had what it took to become a partner. The fringe benefits for her would be freedom from Steven’s financial noose and the achievement of a lifelong goal. Definitely worth the long hours.
She sipped her latte and licked the creamy foam off her lips. The caffeine boost would keep her going for a few more hours.
She licked again, imagining Mark’s lips on hers. How would he taste this time? Would his lips be soft and warm or firm and cool?
Back to work. No kisses for you.
With a sigh, she opened her file and read her notes about Martha’s friend, Martin Kowalski, Chief Scientific Officer and one of Hi-Tech’s longest-serving employees. Although Martin had made it clear to Martha he didn’t want to be involved, he would be an important witness in Martha’s case. She took a deep breath and dialed the number Martha had given her.
“Kowalski residence.”
Katy introduced herself as Martha’s lawyer. She had just started a brief explanation of the dismissal case when Martin interrupted her.
“Where are you calling from? Is your line secure?”
Katy raised her eyebrows. “I’m in my office, and yes, the firm lines are secure. Are you concerned your phone is being monitored?”
“With Hi-Tech, you never know. We have only three minutes to speak before my line will be traced. You’ve used up thirty-five seconds already.”
Katy’s eyes widened. Either Martin suffered from extreme paranoia or genuine fear. Regardless, she wouldn’t waste any more time. “Why did you give Martha the list of names?”
To her relief, he didn’t deny he had authored the note. “To help.”
“Help Martha?”
“And people whose lives may be at risk.”
Katy sighed.“Could you give me a bit more detail?”
“If I wanted to do that, I would have gone to the regulatory agencies myself or even the police. But whistle-blowers in the pharmaceutical industry have a tendency to meet with terrible accidents. Altruistic as I am, the simple fact is, I want to live.”
Katy’s heart pounded. Backtrack. Tease it out of him like a hostile witness.
“You knew the men on the list, didn’t you?”
His voice tightened. “I did.”
“When you gave her the list, you told her it would help prove her allegations about falsifying data and reports?”
“Yes.”
Katy sighed into the phone. “Martin, I understand you’re afraid to speak directly, but you can
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