fifties, her trim body moved with quick efficiency. But her face, lined with stress and exhaustion, aged her beyond her years.
She listened attentively while he outlined Steele’s offer and explained the inconsistencies in the existing contract, but when he finished, she frowned.
“I’m not sure I completely understand, Mr. Richards. Why does Hi-Tech want to give me $100,000?” Julia settled herself on a well-worn, brown velveteen couch across from him.
“The company wants to compensate you for the suffering you’ve endured as a result of the accident.” He still didn’t know the details of the accident and Steele had not been forthcoming when he had asked. “It would be helpful if I could talk to both you and your husband at the same time.”
Julia hesitated for a moment, and then led him to a dimly lit bedroom. Although the file put Peter Davidson at fifty-five years old, the man on the bed looked well over eighty.
If he was a man.
Mark struggled to stem his horror as he looked at the twisted face in front of him. Large swellings protruded from Peter’s forehead and lower jaw. Dark, empty eyes peered out from beneath a heavy brow.
“What’s wrong with him?” he blurted out.
“He has aggressive lymphatic cancer. The doctors have given him only a few months to live.”
“And his face?”
Julia walked over to the bed and helped her husband turn his head in Mark’s direction. “That’s from the accident. He was with his cleaning team in a lab and they spilled some kind of chemical.”
“I’m sorry.” The words seemed inadequate for Peter’s suffering, but he could offer nothing better.
“Thank you.” She gave him a sad smile. “You’re the first person from Hi-Tech to apologize.”
Mark drew in a ragged breath and explained the amended agreement and proposed payment for Julia as well as the non-disclosure provisions preventing the Davidsons from discussing the accident or the settlements. “You should get independent legal advice so you can be certain you’ve been treated fairly.”
Julia looked up in surprise. “The last lawyer Hi-Tech sent told Peter not to take his agreement to another lawyer. He said the offer would be withdrawn if anyone saw it.”
“You may have misunderstood.” Mark’s jaw clenched. He had no doubt Gordon had obtained the signatures under duress.
Julia shook her head. “We don’t need another lawyer involved and we don’t have the time to find someone. Peter doesn’t have long to live. We’ll sign the agreements.”
It took Mark only a few minutes to deal with the formalities and bid farewell to the Davidsons. When the door closed behind him, anxiety flooded through his veins. The entire meeting had left him uneasy. He had always known Gordon played fast and loose with the law, but this time innocent people had suffered and they deserved proper compensation.
Even more unsettling had been the subtle shake of Peter’s head when Julia had mentioned the accident.
No, no, no.
Chapter Seven
What am I missing?
Katy flipped through Martha’s file for the third time in an hour and then stared out the glass walls of her office. Why would Hi-Tech continue to defend the case in the face of the overwhelming evidence against it? She had interviewed two senior Hi-Tech employees and both had confirmed Martha’s exemplary performance. Neither of them had been aware of any policy about after-hours’ access. She suspected it didn’t exist. Despite her repeated requests, Mark had yet to produce the policy or any other relevant document.
Totally unacceptable.
Too bad she couldn’t see his face when he received her application requesting access to all Hi-Tech’s documents, and not just those relevant to the case. A blatant fishing expedition. She could hardly wait for the fireworks. The buzz of yesterday’s courtroom battle still hadn’t worn off. Nor had her embarrassment at her inappropriate behavior. But the minute he had touched her, rational thought had
She listened attentively while he outlined Steele’s offer and explained the inconsistencies in the existing contract, but when he finished, she frowned.
“I’m not sure I completely understand, Mr. Richards. Why does Hi-Tech want to give me $100,000?” Julia settled herself on a well-worn, brown velveteen couch across from him.
“The company wants to compensate you for the suffering you’ve endured as a result of the accident.” He still didn’t know the details of the accident and Steele had not been forthcoming when he had asked. “It would be helpful if I could talk to both you and your husband at the same time.”
Julia hesitated for a moment, and then led him to a dimly lit bedroom. Although the file put Peter Davidson at fifty-five years old, the man on the bed looked well over eighty.
If he was a man.
Mark struggled to stem his horror as he looked at the twisted face in front of him. Large swellings protruded from Peter’s forehead and lower jaw. Dark, empty eyes peered out from beneath a heavy brow.
“What’s wrong with him?” he blurted out.
“He has aggressive lymphatic cancer. The doctors have given him only a few months to live.”
“And his face?”
Julia walked over to the bed and helped her husband turn his head in Mark’s direction. “That’s from the accident. He was with his cleaning team in a lab and they spilled some kind of chemical.”
“I’m sorry.” The words seemed inadequate for Peter’s suffering, but he could offer nothing better.
“Thank you.” She gave him a sad smile. “You’re the first person from Hi-Tech to apologize.”
Mark drew in a ragged breath and explained the amended agreement and proposed payment for Julia as well as the non-disclosure provisions preventing the Davidsons from discussing the accident or the settlements. “You should get independent legal advice so you can be certain you’ve been treated fairly.”
Julia looked up in surprise. “The last lawyer Hi-Tech sent told Peter not to take his agreement to another lawyer. He said the offer would be withdrawn if anyone saw it.”
“You may have misunderstood.” Mark’s jaw clenched. He had no doubt Gordon had obtained the signatures under duress.
Julia shook her head. “We don’t need another lawyer involved and we don’t have the time to find someone. Peter doesn’t have long to live. We’ll sign the agreements.”
It took Mark only a few minutes to deal with the formalities and bid farewell to the Davidsons. When the door closed behind him, anxiety flooded through his veins. The entire meeting had left him uneasy. He had always known Gordon played fast and loose with the law, but this time innocent people had suffered and they deserved proper compensation.
Even more unsettling had been the subtle shake of Peter’s head when Julia had mentioned the accident.
No, no, no.
Chapter Seven
What am I missing?
Katy flipped through Martha’s file for the third time in an hour and then stared out the glass walls of her office. Why would Hi-Tech continue to defend the case in the face of the overwhelming evidence against it? She had interviewed two senior Hi-Tech employees and both had confirmed Martha’s exemplary performance. Neither of them had been aware of any policy about after-hours’ access. She suspected it didn’t exist. Despite her repeated requests, Mark had yet to produce the policy or any other relevant document.
Totally unacceptable.
Too bad she couldn’t see his face when he received her application requesting access to all Hi-Tech’s documents, and not just those relevant to the case. A blatant fishing expedition. She could hardly wait for the fireworks. The buzz of yesterday’s courtroom battle still hadn’t worn off. Nor had her embarrassment at her inappropriate behavior. But the minute he had touched her, rational thought had
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